For the third consecutive year, Havas Sports, Sport magazine and Radio Monte Carlo have teamed up to publish the world classification of leading sporting nations. All medals (first, second and third place) awarded at official world competitions, including the most recent Olympic Games — Winter or Summer, the latest World Championships and for some sports, the official international classification — such as the ATP for tennis — are taken into account in order to determine this classification. The number of sports included in this classification is 51: from swimming to basketball, and from squash to rugby.
This study establishes, for 2007, the annual hierarchy of the sporting potential of nations, an illustration of the level of preparation of athletes a few weeks away from the Beijing Olympic Games.
On the top step of the podium 92 times and with a growing total number of medals, France is defending its rank as a sporting nation and comes fifth in the classification. The United States is in first place, followed by China, Russia and Germany. The biggest improvement is shown by China, which rose from fourth to second place. The 2008 Olympic Games is likely to bring major changes to this classification.
With the opening of the Beijing Olympic Games less than a month away, the various National Olympic Committees have begun the process of qualifying which athletes will defend their colors in China from Aug. 8 to 24. The selection of the best athletes, given the limited places and high requirements, contributes to an international competitive spirit even before the Games begin.
The national strategies are diverse but the objectives remain the same: To garner as many medals as possible. While China is putting its efforts into shooting, table tennis, gymnastics, badminton and weightlifting, France has adopted a more wide-ranging policy, which consists of taking its athletes to the highest level in a broad range of event, from equestrian sports and sailing, through to cycling and rowing.
At this 29th Olympiad, the competition looks as though it is going to be particularly tough. Ranking first worldwide in fencing, France is counting on its team, whether it is epee competitors which include the 2007 European champion, Jérôme Jeannet, or in the saber category, which include twice world champion Anne-Lise Touya, or in the foil category, including the current Olympic champion, Brice Guyart, to hold back the assaults of their direct adversaries, whether they are Russian, such as Elena Netchaeva or American such as Kensley Winston.
Judo, a French preserve, will be defended by the relief team of young champions. The challenge will be to floor the most serious rivals, including the Russian Olympic champion, Tamerlan Tmenov, or the world king of the tatami, Japanese Kosei Inoue, and in the case of Teddy Riner to achieve an extraordinary quadruple victory, by hanging up the Olympic gold alongside his 2007 European and World, and 2008 French, championship titles.
In swimming, there are high hopes for many good results. It should be stressed that the early part of this year looked particularly promising. During the first four months of 2008, 39 world records were beaten, notably in the men’s 50m freestyle. The confrontation between Australian Eamon Sullivan, Russian Alexandre Popov and Frenchman Alain Bernard is likely to set the stopwatches spinning. Among the women, the 2004 Athens Olympic Games made a name for Laure Manaudou and put France back on track for victory. Four years on, the French women’s swimming team has made a splash on the world stage and is getting ready to face the opposition, particularly the waves being made by Italian swimmer Frederica Pelligrini. The Olympic Games also provide an opportunity to shed light on sports that tend to get less media coverage, such as archery, mountain biking and even the triathlon. Kayakers will be having a field day since the honor of carrying the French flag at the opening ceremony will fall to twice Olympic champion Tony Estanguet. He might also finally go down in history if the Olympic gold hangs once more round his neck by becoming the first French athlete to win gold in three consecutive Games. As for the Bicycle Motocross (MBC) which is a newcomer as an Olympic sport, lots of hope rests on the shoulders of Thomas Allier, who should find his place at the core of a race dominated by the Swiss, the Americans and the Canadians.
“Mens sana in corpore sano...” is a leitmotiv that leads sportsmen and women to promote their culture of hard work and achievement, and carry an entire nation with them.
