Is the Olympics just about winning gold medals?

Context of this post:

This morning I’m teaching a group of year 5/6 students. The WALT (We are learning to…) is join an online discussion via a blog and make a comment.

Post:

An overseas friend made a light-hearted  jib about the Aussies performance in these Olympics which got me to thinking is the Olympics just about winning gold medals. If you were to use the medal tally which lists countries by the number of gold medals won you might think so.

John Coates an Australian Olympic Board member thinks so according to a recent news article. Australia’s chef de mission Nick Green disagrees.

Britain who won more medals than Australia, which is not unusual for host countries, has called for compulsory primary school sport as a way of sustaining its success. Some in Australia agree.

What do you think?

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17 Responses to Is the Olympics just about winning gold medals?

  1. mwalker says:

    Hi everyone, thanks for your considered responses to the questions raised recently in the press about the Aussies in the Olympics. I can see you are quite passionate and proud of any Australian just making the Olympics competition. I heard of so many Olympians doing personal bests which is really all we can ask of them.

    Can I also say most of us achieved our the learning intention ( a few technical issues aside) within an hour which is worth acknowledging – well done.

  2. Will says:

    we think going to the olympics is a fantastic opportunity to repersent there country. they make australia proud.

  3. issy+katilyn says:

    This is the worst accusation from this century (http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport)

    They are critisizing us as australians that we id a poor and unsatisfieing job only coming home with 35 medels including 7 gold but we did come in toop ten, we didnt come last or second last.

    Australias performance was not the best but they tried and persisted and came home smiling!

  4. Julian and Liam says:

    The olympics can unite countries like no other event in the world. It is a great way to bring glory to your country and meet new peaople that share your passion. :):):):P:):P:P:P

  5. Che&Caspar&Harry&Oscar says:

    The Olympics is about trying your best even if you win or not. Also about having fun.

  6. Rosie and Mia says:

    we think it is so unfair to all australians (swimmers)
    A:they think that we arnt doing enough
    B:it just not fair because there blaming us for something that the olympians did not do.
    PLEASE STOP BLAMING US!!!!!!!!

  7. seb says:

    australia should be proud of our athletes. AS MANY PEOPLE DONT REAISE ITS NOT EVEN EASY TO QUALIFY FOR THE OLYMPICS LET ALONE GET A GOLD MEDAL.We still came tenth in the medal tally.

    posted by, MOTTI GENIUS

  8. We think that the olympics are about having fun and competing in your favourite sport/event. Winning a gold medal would be a previlidge for most competetors to win a gold medal, but we think that just being in the Olympics would be a wonderful experience, that many people dream of.

  9. finn says:

    😀 XD :O :/

  10. Che&Caspar&Harry&Oscar says:

    We strongly disagree. It is not just about getting a gold medal & winning, it is about countriesuniting and becoming one. That’s why the Olympic rings are interlocked.

  11. Lillie and Catherine says:

    We think that the Olympics is mostly about having fun and trying your best, because not everyone can win a gold medal. The Olympics is about competing in a sport and trying your absolute best, even if you win a medal or not. being in the Olympics itself is an amazing privellige.

  12. Che&Caspar&Harry&Oscar says:

    We strongly disagree. It is not just about getting a gold medal & winning, it is about countriesuniting and becoming one. That’s why the Olympic rings are interlocked

  13. Julian and Liam says:

    We believe that the Olympics is a way to make world peace between countries which could have been at war. 🙂 😛

  14. Zane and James says:

    Yes because:
    -The winning country is based on GOLD medals won.
    -No one remembers you as the BRONZE and SILVER medalist.

    No because:
    -It’s a big achievement on getting to the olympics, let alone even GETTING a medal.

    By Zane HOOGENDOORN and James HARTSON

  15. Tilly and Emily says:

    we think this is ridiclious (http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/08/07/3562610.htm)

    A. that they are critisizing our olympians for a “poor job” at the London 2012 games. We should be congratulating each other, PROUD of each other-not bagging our olympic team!

    B. Blaming the schools for there physical education proggrames is just out of the QUESTION!!!!! They’re just trying to find an excuse for they’re “poor results” GET A LIFE!

  16. Lauren, Johanna & Amy :) says:

    We think the olyimpics is’nt just about winning gold but to have the opportunity to represent your contry in the sports you love. If you win any medal it is a bonus achievement!!!!!!!!!

  17. finn seb says:

    i think that that is a pretty rich comment from nick green. To make it to the olympics in anything is a wonderful acheivment and im not sure why nick green has a problem with aus coming 10th on the medal tally. we think that aus has done a great job and were very proud of all the olympians. IF YOUR NOT HAPPY WITH OUR RESAULT THATS OK BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU WIN GOLD AT RIO 2016
    from
    ESTELLABOY1 and THE GENIUS

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