China or USA?
Olympic rivalry

Since sports became popular, nations began to compete. The more medals, the better the image of the state.

What a great advertisement it is for a country when its athletes win at international events. Sometimes the competition is more about the prestige than sport.

As London Summer Olympics news report goes back into history, few cases become outstanding. First, the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics. The Nazi leader, Hitler, wanted to see German dominance in athletics. When an Afro-American athlete won, Hitler walked out of the stadium.

Later, the Cold War arrived and the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union began. Both nations for long dominated the medal tables. When the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in late 1970s, the American athletes didn’t show up at 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics. In reply, the Soviets and their satellites didn’t show up at Los Angeles in 1984.

After the Cold War ended, the America dominated the world both economically and on the sport arenas. That was so until recently. The growing economic power of China became apparent on the sports arena during 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. China won the most gold medals. However, when it comes to the medal count, USA won with 110 medals, while China was second with 100.

Many commentators say that Chinese did unusually well because they performed at home. However, many Chinese Olympic athletes say that the enormous pressure in Beijing was difficult to bear and that it may be easier in London this year.

So far, China is leading with the number of gold medals, while tying to the USA when it comes to the medal count. Who will win this year? We’re going to see. Meanwhile, bets can be placed on it via the Internet or top mobile sports betting platforms.