livingdead
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I wanted to say the same, but thought most people will consider it as jealousy.You can't compete with China. China is a Communist State where what the Politburo does in Beijing is the law of the land.
So for China, its a matter of national prestige that their athletes do well. So they spared no expense in building the best facilities, creating academies, hiring foreign coaches, and coaching children from age 3 into their respective sports and giving them corporal punishment if they failed to perform.
Democracies don't operate like that. That is why Soviet Union used to dominate sports and now Russia comes in 4th or 5th. USA tops the medals given the diversity of their population and sheer resources at their disposal to create athletes.
Many authoritarian regimes do great things that can show off the best about themselves.
I was reading an australian's comment (about their bad performance compared to UK), that unlike UK they did not spend millions but focussed on basics. If healthy society is our aim, I will follow the australians.
Here is the bbc article about the money spent.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19144983