London Olympics 2012: Britain's team to win a record number of medals claim scientists

By Craig Mackenzie

PUBLISHED: 06:02 EST, 8 July 2012 | UPDATED: 13:50 EST, 9 July 2012

Gold standard: The medal Olympians want to win most of all

Britain will win a record number of medals at the London 2012 Olympics, predict scientists.

The researchers, who accurately forecast the medal haul at three previous games, have calculated Team GB will take home a total of 62 medals.

This tally beats the post-war record of 47 we won in Beijing in 2008 and will place Britain fourth in medal table.

The scientists expect Britain to take 25 golds - six more than in Beijing - and we will only be beaten in the gold standard by the U.S. and China.

Emily Williams, a British research assistant at The Tuck School of Business in New Hampshire, carried out the study, using an economic formula created after the 1996 Atlanta Games.

The figures are based on population, per capita income, past performances of the athletes and the advantage of hosting the games - and not the form of competitors.

These have been the crucial factors dictating national Olympic medal totals over the past four decades, according to economists.

In Beijing, they forecast the U.S. would top the medals table, but China would win the most gold medals, accurately predicting 36 golds for America.

Ms Williams told the Sunday Times: 'It's very exciting for Britain. The formula has been so reliable in the past there's no reason to think it won't be this time.'

Britain can expect 15 extra medals because it is hosting the Olympics with six of those being gold, but Ms Williams admits:' We're not really sure why hosting the Games has such an effect but it does.'

Last week UK Sport, the government's funding body, said it expected team GB to win at least 48 medals, just one more than our haul four years ago.

China is predicted to win more golds than France because its 1.3 billion population compensates for its low per capita income.

Another factor which favours Britain is that countries that did well in Beijing will replicate that in London with Russia, Australia and Germany likely to fall below expectations again.

Olympic legend: British rower Sir Steve Redgrave holds his fifth Olympic gold medal after winning at the 2000 Games.

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Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2170457/London-Olympics-2012-Britains-team-win-record-number-medals-claim-scientists.html?ITO=1490

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