1. Devise an alternative medals table for the Athens 2004 Olympics and other recent Games by adjusting results (medal points) to take into account each country's population size.
2. To make this calculation divide total medal points by the total population of the country to give an alternative medals score. Use the worksheet provided to record your calculations. Rank countries from highest to lowest to get an alternative medals table.
3. Compare your alternative medals table to the official medals table for Athens. How have the positions of particular countries changed as a result of this calculation? Which countries are now in the 'Top Ten' on the alternative medals table for Athens 2004? How has Australia's position changed? And the United Kingdom?
4. Another means of evaluating 'success' of individual countries at the Olympic Games is in terms of per capita GDP. To make this calculation divide total medal points by GDP per capita for that country to give an alternative medals score. Use the worksheet/s provided to record your calculations.
5. In small groups of two or three students make these calculations for the past five Olympic Games - from Seoul 1988 through to Athens 2004.
6. Develop a worksheet to record medal points data for the Beijing Games. Use resources such as the CIA World Factbook 2008 to collect data on population and GDP per capita (US$ adjusted for purchasing power parity) for each of the medal-winning countries.
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Medal Mapping: Activities Two
Olympic performance index and alternative medals table
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