What do you prefer in judging a country at the olympics? total medals won or gold medals won?

I like the point system. Where you assign points to each type, 3 for gold, 2 for silver and 1 for bronze. With the US system a country that won 100 bronze will tie a country with 100 gold, that's not right. With the other system that just counts gold, a country with 1 gold will win over a country with 100 silver, that's not right either. With the points system there is no question, country with more points win.

Well, here's my way. First, I would see which country has the most medals then with those results, I would decide which country has more Gold to determine which country was the best in the Olympics.

China will win it since they will definitely end up having more gold than the US. The US has to settle for second place even if they win the most medals, they are lacking in gold. US has to wait to 2012 and will do much better.

I hear people saying that winning a silver medal is losing. I don't agree. Nor do I agree with the idea of judging a country. The achievments are those of the athletes. not their countries. Yes, I like the US to win, but can't we stand behind other people's children as well and feel pride for any deserving athlete from anywhere?

total gold medals.

You have to take both into consideration. You cannot just count gold, that's lame as it gets.

if you have one team with 100 gold and no other medals,

and another team with 99 gold and 100 bronze and silver,

you cannot call the team with 100 gold winners, that's lame.

total medals won

total gold medals should be considered

totals medals, gold medal just makes it sweeter

Definitely gold medals, because those indicate champions. Silver and bronze are losers, and its stupid to even consider them.