The SoLa Foundation’s Post

Who won the olympics? Would it surprise you if I said Dominica? The medals tables I see list USA and China as the top two countries. Big, rich countries with far more resources. That is not a level playing field, so I did a fairer analysis. In each case I weighted the medals 3:2:1 for gold:silver:bronze to create 'medal points': By population. How many people per medal point? The smaller your population, the lower the probability it will contain a world-class star. However, two small-population countries worked incredibly hard to locate and develop the talent they did have. 1. Dominica: 23,333 2. St Lucia: 36,000 ... 26. Great Britain: 593,913 47. United States: 1,336,800 74. China: 7,140,404 By GDP. Rich countries buy medals with expensive world-class training facilities, comprehensive bursaries for young athletes and more. Others don't have this luxury. So let's compare the medals table to how rich a country is, using GDP(PPP) as our measure of wealth. And here it is in medal points per $ trillion. 1. Dominica: 4.688 2. St Lucia: 2.500 ... 38. Great Britain: 0.030 70. United States: 0.009 78. China: 0.005 I am fascinated and surprised that the ranking of the 5 countries I've chosen remains exactly the same by both measures. But most of all, I'm gobsmacked by the achievement of little Dominica. Will you join me in celebrating their victory?

After its recent move to award prize money for winning golds at this years #Olympics, World Athletics ups the ante in terms of rewarding it athletes with the announcement of their new #UltimateChampionship. Given the importance of athlete #fandom in driving future relevance of the sport it can only be a good thing that they are starting to be rewarded a bigger slice of the commercial pie. With other initiates such Michael Johnson's new track league and the Athletic Ventures JV in the UK, #Athletics is starting to show green shoots of going in the right direction. It may also set a path for other Olympic sports, in terms of disruption from within, to attempt to fill the 4-year commercial and media void between respective Games. Although, seeing some of the comments from the IOC ecosystem on the question of prize money, don't hold your breath! Interestingly, the end-of-season biannual Ultimate Championship will be staged in #Olympic and #Commonwealth Games years. The Olympic brand is more than strong enough to cope. However, for the Commonwealth Games, it further erodes its relevance in a cluttered sporting calendar, where economics, cultural relevance and sporting significance are providing it with an existential threat for its very survival. After the #Melbourne debacle and still yet to confirm a venue for 2026, it might be time for the Commonwealth Games Federation to just, "Let it go!" #WorldAthletics #IOC #MajorEvents #SportsEconomy International Olympic Committee – IOC ASOIF BBC

Change is good. For the first 54 years of the Olympics, there was only one event. Sprinting. "They are barefoot, muscles tense, glistening with olive oil. Their focus is palpable, because immortality is at stake...This event is called the stadion — the 200-yard dash, basically, and like most sprints, it’s over in seconds. But what a moment! What a rush! We have just witnessed the sacred birth of global athletics! The first Olympic Games have begun! Also, now they are over." Over time, a number of new sports were added. Some were canned (e.g. mule cart racing!?!). Today, there are over 40 sub sports (many more sub-events) with a few new ones like break! To stay relevant, the Olympics, like companies, needs to innovate. That means, reacting to new trends, including new audiences (or customers) and adding new sports (or products). And thank goodness. I'm glad some old traditions are gone. "When they finished exercising, athletes would scrape the oil and dirt and sweat off their bodies — and gymnasiums would collect it and sell it as medicine." https://lnkd.in/gsSVySvU

The Paris Olympics – Are The Medals Worth The Effort? As the Paris Olympics close, following Tom Cruise's abseiling into the Stade de France as an effort to wave in the 2028 Los Angeles games, there remains a big question over the value of Going For Gold. In a report by Oxford Economics, the leader in global forecasting and quantitative analysis, it is claimed that the Olympic Gold Medal is not all gold. In fact, it is only just over 1% gold! The medals consist of 523 grams of silver and just six grams of gold. Whereas the Olympic Silver Medals are all silver, some 525 grams. The Olympic Bronze Medals are a 455 gram mix of copper, tin and zinc. But did you know that each of the medals have included a piece of iron from the Eiffel Tower, giving them truly unique value. Furthermore, Oxford Economics informs that the gold medals are worth some $1,027, while the silver medals are worth $535, and the bronze medals are worth just a paltry $4.60. In My View I am in total admiration for all of the participants and contestants in the Olympics. The pride that they gain for their relative countries cannot be priced by a commodity, but instead by the fierce competition and attainment of the various awards. It is not about the values but the achievement.

The Canadian men's 4x100m relay team's gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics highlighted several key lessons about teamwork, preparation, and resilience: 1) Consistency and Trust: The team, consisting of Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake, Brendon Rodney, and Andre De Grasse, demonstrated the power of a consistent lineup. Having trained together for years, their familiarity and trust in each other were crucial in executing smooth baton exchanges, even under pressure. This underscores the importance of building long-term cohesion in a team setting. 2) Handling Pressure and Adversity: Despite facing challenging weather conditions and the pressure of competing against world-class teams, the Canadians remained composed and focused. Their ability to stay calm and execute their race plan, especially during critical moments, such as De Grasse's anchor leg, was a testament to their mental toughness. 3) Team over Individual Performance: Individually, the Canadian sprinters had mixed results in their other events at the Paris Olympics, but their collective effort in the relay brought out the best in each of them. This illustrates the principle that a team's success is often greater than the sum of its parts, particularly when individuals work together towards a common goal. 4) Adaptability and Seizing Opportunities: The Canadians took advantage of a chaotic race where other top teams, like the USA, faltered due to errors. By staying focused and capitalizing on the situation, they turned potential setbacks into an opportunity for victory, showing the importance of adaptability in competitive environments. These lessons from the Canadian relay team's success at Paris 2024 provide valuable insights into the dynamics of high-performing teams, applicable both in sports and broader team-based endeavors. Too boot you have to give the leadership credit to their longtime coach Glenroy Gilbert.

Interesting read on the success of the Olympics.

All the talk is "Go for the Gold," but the Olympics isn't about competing, it's about community. Community? You are probably asking what Olympics I'm watching... Yes, I know that's hard to believe when all we see are the Olympic medal counts and stories of athletes pushing themselves to be a part of the medal ceremony. But stick with me here... What if the real point of the Olympics isn't to see who gets the most medals... but rather to remind us that 206 countries can come together for one common purpose? What if the real point of the Olympics is to remind us that we can come together to create a community... A community that shares a common experience, values, and purpose: the pursuit of excellence. A community that creates a sense of place that transcends the athletes' home countries: the Olympic Village. A community that reminds us that we are just one of 206 countries who make the Olympics so special... What if the real point of the Olympics isn't to see who gets the most medals... but rather to remind us that there are more things that can unite us than divide us? Two billion people, or one-third of the world's population, watched the opening ceremony. If you were one of them, I hope you saw what I saw... Not the build-up of a global competition, but rather the building of a global community. Sometimes all it takes is a little friendly competition to bring us all together!

 5 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐞-𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫. Swedish pole-vaulter Armand Gustav "Mondo" Duplantis shows the power of true competition.   He set a new world record height of 6.25m. He has broken his world record of 6.24m held previously. Reflecting on the recent Paris Olympics, here are five key lessons we can learn:   1. 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Competition is not about defeating others, but about overcoming personal limitations. Duplantis, who broke his own world record at the Olympics proved this. The crowd cheered, not for his victory over others, but his victory over his limits.   2. 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐭 The real competition is between your abilities and your doubts. Duplantis's willingness to set a new record, even after securing the gold medal, shows how he challenged his own doubts and fears.   3. 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 Excessive competition can lead to a destructive 'rat race' mentality. The Olympics celebrates an athlete's pursuit of excellence, not their desire to undermine or 'undo' their competitors.   4. 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 True competition nurtures the spirit of self-improvement and excellence. Sergei Bubka, who broke the world record for pole vaulting 35 times over 15 years, embodied the spirit of self-improvement. He said, “Believe in yourself, even when others doubt you. You can achieve anything you set your mind to”   5. 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 The key to surpassing your limitations is self-belief and perseverance. Bubka's trademark ability to consistently break records came from his unshakeable belief in himself and his abilities.   𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨 Competition has shifted from improving oneself to winning at any cost, using any means. Such a mindset and approach are the surest recipes for disaster. Eliminating a rival isn't victory; it's a cursed, Pyrrhic win.   Paris Olympics reminds us that true competition is about bettering ourselves and overcoming our personal limitations. It is a testament to the human spirit's resilience, courage, and unyielding pursuit of excellence.   What lessons have you learned from the athletes in the Olympics?                  

With the Olympics underway, many of us will be cheering on our favorite athletes in our favorite events as they compete for gold medals. As you consider the comradery and amazement of sporting events bringing people together, you might also consider how this is now done for those with special needs with the Special Olympics, and supporting them too. The Special Olympics delivers 30 Olympic-type sports and over 100,000 games and competitions each year! Those that care for someone with special needs know that it’s not an easy job, or a job that you can be perfect at on day one, or day five, or day one hundred and five. The concern about who could take over that job isn’t an easy one. For the affluent, another concern is how to ensure that the person with special needs can have access to funds that could improve their quality of life without jeopardizing eligibility for government assistance. That’s where a special needs trust can help. Beyond managing the financial side of things, instructions can be included to ensure the special needs individual has access to things like their favorite sporting events, or even a list of their favorite foods can be included. At Garden State Trust Company, we’re proud to offer this service. https://lnkd.in/eDybkdE