Comments on: Wealth and the Olympics http://www.coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html Dispatches from a Small Business Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:39:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Roger Veritas http://www.coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html/comment-page-1#comment-13255 Roger Veritas Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:09:19 +0000 http://coyote-blog.com/wordpress/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html#comment-13255 <p>Money is a big part of the factor societal value is another. India has a strong caste system. In the upper caste is is probably strongly derided for a son or a daughter to engage in a physical activity when they should be getting an engineering degree. They could easily pay for and build facilities given their cost structure is on par with china. They have to decide they want to. Their biggest social competitor is Pakistan and they(Pakistan) probably don't permit scantily clad swimmers, spandex clad skiers - shooter and suicide bombers maybe. So until Pakistan embarrasses them in a lot of Olympics they will eat their curry extra hot. </p> Money is a big part of the factor societal value is another. India has a strong caste system. In the upper caste is is probably strongly derided for a son or a daughter to engage in a physical activity when they should be getting an engineering degree. They could easily pay for and build facilities given their cost structure is on par with china. They have to decide they want to. Their biggest social competitor is Pakistan and they(Pakistan) probably don’t permit scantily clad swimmers, spandex clad skiers – shooter and suicide bombers maybe. So until Pakistan embarrasses them in a lot of Olympics they will eat their curry extra hot.

]]> By: Rachel http://www.coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html/comment-page-1#comment-13254 Rachel Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:05:51 +0000 http://coyote-blog.com/wordpress/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html#comment-13254 <p>It is emphatically not genetics. In the cases mentioned, Kenya and Jamaica, purely physical gifts does seem to contribute to success in exactly one Olympic event (marathon and 100 meter dash respectively). But prolific medal winners (among countries) are those who can invest time and money in lifetimes of training.</p> It is emphatically not genetics. In the cases mentioned, Kenya and Jamaica, purely physical gifts does seem to contribute to success in exactly one Olympic event (marathon and 100 meter dash respectively). But prolific medal winners (among countries) are those who can invest time and money in lifetimes of training.

]]> By: Roy Lofquist http://www.coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html/comment-page-1#comment-13253 Roy Lofquist Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:49:14 +0000 http://coyote-blog.com/wordpress/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html#comment-13253 <p>I apologize for the multiple posts. Happened when the dog chased the cat who jumped on the keyboard.<br /> </p> I apologize for the multiple posts. Happened when the dog chased the cat who jumped on the keyboard.

]]> By: Economic Logician http://www.coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html/comment-page-1#comment-13252 Economic Logician Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:35:27 +0000 http://coyote-blog.com/wordpress/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html#comment-13252 <p>I <a href="http://economiclogic.blogspot.com/2008/08/who-will-win-olympics.html" rel="nofollow">discussed</a> this topic on my blog a week ago. It boils down to wealth, health and a cold climate. India does not have too much of each...</p> I discussed this topic on my blog a week ago. It boils down to wealth, health and a cold climate. India does not have too much of each…

]]> By: Matthew Bohnert http://www.coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html/comment-page-1#comment-13251 Matthew Bohnert Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:22:21 +0000 http://coyote-blog.com/wordpress/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html#comment-13251 <p>We were recently in Florence visiting the Accademe when I saw a similar point regarding the Renaissance painters. Many of those fellows (and they all were fellows, unfortunately) lived to be 70+ or 80+ years old in an age where the average life expectancy was about 35, I would guess.</p> <p>Clearly there was a differential in the inputs, and outputs, from those guys' lives that is quite measurable. The inputs were obviously a higher standard of living, increased attention from society and its leaders, and a host of other factors that were not bestowed on the population at large. The output was also obvious. I expect it to be the same with Olympic medal production, much in the way our host has pointed out.</p> <p>Matt</p> We were recently in Florence visiting the Accademe when I saw a similar point regarding the Renaissance painters. Many of those fellows (and they all were fellows, unfortunately) lived to be 70+ or 80+ years old in an age where the average life expectancy was about 35, I would guess.

Clearly there was a differential in the inputs, and outputs, from those guys’ lives that is quite measurable. The inputs were obviously a higher standard of living, increased attention from society and its leaders, and a host of other factors that were not bestowed on the population at large. The output was also obvious. I expect it to be the same with Olympic medal production, much in the way our host has pointed out.

Matt

]]> By: Sameer Parekh http://www.coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html/comment-page-1#comment-13250 Sameer Parekh Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:36:43 +0000 http://coyote-blog.com/wordpress/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html#comment-13250 <p>I am quite certain that vegetarianism is also a factor. A rich vegetarian is not going to be as successful as a rich omnivore. A rich vegetarian probably won't even be as successful as a poor omnivore.<br /> </p> I am quite certain that vegetarianism is also a factor. A rich vegetarian is not going to be as successful as a rich omnivore. A rich vegetarian probably won’t even be as successful as a poor omnivore.

]]> By: Steve http://www.coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html/comment-page-1#comment-13249 Steve Sun, 17 Aug 2008 11:26:44 +0000 http://coyote-blog.com/wordpress/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html#comment-13249 <p>Genetic inferiority</p> Genetic inferiority

]]> By: Roy Lofquist http://www.coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html/comment-page-1#comment-13248 Roy Lofquist Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:05:20 +0000 http://coyote-blog.com/wordpress/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html#comment-13248 <p>My brother in law had two daughters who were gymnasts. It was god-awful expensive. The only pay-off was partial scholarships to a middle sized college.</p> My brother in law had two daughters who were gymnasts. It was god-awful expensive. The only pay-off was partial scholarships to a middle sized college.

]]> By: Roy Lofquist http://www.coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html/comment-page-1#comment-13247 Roy Lofquist Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:05:11 +0000 http://coyote-blog.com/wordpress/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html#comment-13247 <p>My brother in law had two daughters who were gymnasts. It was god-awful expensive. The only pay-off was partial scholarships to a middle sized college.</p> My brother in law had two daughters who were gymnasts. It was god-awful expensive. The only pay-off was partial scholarships to a middle sized college.

]]> By: Roy Lofquist http://www.coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html/comment-page-1#comment-13246 Roy Lofquist Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:05:05 +0000 http://coyote-blog.com/wordpress/2008/08/wealth-and-the-2.html#comment-13246 <p>My brother in law had two daughters who were gymnasts. It was god-awful expensive. The only pay-off was partial scholarships to a middle sized college.</p> My brother in law had two daughters who were gymnasts. It was god-awful expensive. The only pay-off was partial scholarships to a middle sized college.

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