BY STEPHEN WADE
As the Paris Olympics are set to open this week, the United States goes in as the favorite to win the most medals. China is unlikely to overtake the U.S. in the overall medal haul, but has a chance to win more gold medals than the Americans.
Though the Games highlight great individual athletes, they are also a surrogate for geopolitcal influence and national pride.
The United States is projected to win 112 medals overall — 39 gold, 32 silver, and 41 bronze. China is forecast to win 86 overall — 34 gold, 27 silver, and 25 bronze.
This forecast is by Nielsen’s Gracenot e Sports, which supplies statistical analysis for sports leagues around the world. It also tracks major competitions involving Olympic sports leading up to the Games.
The United States and China finished 1-2 in both categories in 2021 in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics.
The
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