Britain set to model China's success come 2012

Great Britain will most certainly try to capitalize on its home-nation advantage in 2012 by revving up its Olympic program between now and then and pouring more money into the training of its athletes in an effort to announce its claim to No. 1. It already has shined in activities such as crew, sailing, swimming and cycling, but it certainly will expand its sporting realm beyond those without having to resort to training toddlers for competition as adolescents, as the Chinese have been accused of doing.

Whether Great Britain can overtake both the United States and China through its efforts between now and 2012 depends somewhat on whether those two countries allow themselves to be unseated. Both nations have been fairly consistent about coveting hardware; in 2004, the U.S. led in both overall medals (102) and gold (36). China was second that year in golds (32), but third overall behind Russia (92 to 63).

Yet a slight bit of incentive will be missing in 2012 for the Americans and the Chinese. The former won’t be going to try and spoil the celebration of an ideological and economic competitor. The latter won’t be attempting to spread its rapidly expanding influence via athletics.

Great Britain doesn’t have a superpower mentality and will not approach the 2012 Games with the same obsession with honor and image that China has displayed this summer. Still, it’s the Olympics, and there will be gargantuan efforts taken to make a jolly good showing.

Great Britain only had 30 medals in all in 2004 – good for 10^th place – with just nine of them gold. Thus far in the 2008 Games, the Brits have tallied 47 medals overall, with 19 gold, for fourth place. If they keep up that rate of improvement, it will cause the superpowers to rethink their strategy, while perhaps enticing Great Britain to try and take back some of its possessions.

And what of Russia, the fallen giant that is rising anew in a different form? Chances are that it will continue to put emphasis on its athletic programs between now and 2012 so it can maintain respect among other nations. If it continues to pull maneuvers like it did with the recent foray into Georgia in the coming four years, it will jog memories of a darker era when Russians and their allies approached any international interaction with sinister intent.

One thing is certain: London in 2012 will be a more joyful place than Beijing in 2008. While the Chinese have spared no expense, most reports suggest it hasn’t translated into fun, fun, fun. London will surely lighten up the Olympic Games.

That is one competition Brits have already won without even lifting a finger.

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