This hasn't got anything to viral marketing, but why are India coming 40th in the Olympics (with 1 gold), when they have a population of over 1 billion? Mumbai 2016 anyone?
Surely you're not serious with this one, Chris? Hasn't India got more important things to put their money into than sport? And Olympics success is down to the money you put in.
Lots of things are wrong with the way sports is run in India. The other thing is India's fixation with cricket. The entire country seems to root for that one sport.
Mumbai 2016 - no way. Lets wait for Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 and then we can put out some bets.
Nothing new here.
Athens 2004
66 India 0 1 0 1
Sydney
74. India 0 0 1 1
www.marginalrevolution.com/.../why-does-india.html is the place to go to see a wide-ranging discussion of this very question.
Here is a related comment by the Nobel-winning economist Gary Becker
www.becker-posner-blog.com
A few years back the sole medal winner from India was in the rifle shooting. When asked the secret of his success the man helpfully explained that he had gained a great deal of experience on the Pakistan border.
Guess Indians are still focused on producing engineers and doctors. sports is never considered a credible career option to begin with. In fact kids who choose sports have already been labeled academic losers by society. That in my mind is the real issue. You have to change perception before you can create champions.
Rory - made me laugh.
Ha! , love the Pakistan comment Rory - made me laugh + some really good cultural insight from Saurabh. I think it's v.interesting that most sports are now driven by cash, and not necessarily raw talent. There seems to be a parallel here with the influence of cash in sports themselves and the increased commercialisation of the Olympics.
Chris Quigley
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Last login: 20 Nov 2009
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