The Two Sides of a Olympic Gold Coin - Is Gold the only Medal worth winning

Winning a Olympic Goal medal is a prestigious moment, for self, family and country. One could remember the Olympic gold rush during Cold war between USA and USSR. The games were used as political propaganda where both sides wanted to show their political and way of living ,superiority  by winning more medals.

But what does the Gold Medals mean in today’s culture when there is no cold war,   What does a gold medal mean for China or India.

What drives China’s obsession with the Gold, In China the count of Gold medals is looked as a demonstration to the world of its increasing political and military power.

 Earlier this week China’s Boxer broke down on national television and apologies for disgracing the motherland, he had won a Silver medal.

There are hundreds of medal factories as they are called, notorious for their methods that some say are even very violent.

The sign above the gym floor contains one word, “Gold.” It’s a stark, relentless reminder to the children beneath it as to just what their mission requires

 
Chang Shan Wo once seen as a promising Olympic prospect now injured and aged 28 can be seen begging for money on the streets. He like many others can be seen as the byproduct of Gold hungry obsession, with the mentality that the only medal worth winning is a gold medal.

On the other Side, Indians generally make the numbers  and are content with making a trip to the Olympics. The word "Olympian" figuring in their business cards.  The mindset has never been to be a medalist than a Olympian. The situation can be better described as Medal drought,  India has just won  eight gold, one silver and two bronze in hockey between 1928 and 1980. Apart from that India had just one medal at the Olympics which is a bronze in wrestling in 1952. After which the Drought got worse like Indian monsoon from 1984 to 1992, there were ZERO medals. After that between 1994 to 2004 these were one medal each. The current Olympic is not better.

The Incentives have always been there, a medal means, a good job prospect, and couple of million rupees in cash after paying off the taxes by the Indian Government. Still there is no medal rush.

And the situation of  dejected athletes is no better in India as well, Some have been found working in Stone quarries of Brickyards, dejected and left to fend for their own.

Is the only way Sports can be promoted is to inject Patriotism  There has to be a middle path.