The global sporting landscape has undergone major changes after the Beijing Olympic Games. Many countries and regions have increased their investment in competitive sports, which has helped enhance their competitive strength.
China won the most gold medals for the first time at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but will face a more complicated situation and more difficulties in London. After the Beijing Olympics, China's sporting landscape has undergone far more changes than that of any other country due to the succession of Olympic athletes and personnel adjustments. The retirement of certain Olympic and world champions has inevitably weakened China’s competitiveness in its preponderant Olympic sports and potentially preponderant ones.
At the same time, the United States has maintained its competitiveness in its preponderant Olympic sports such as track and field and swimming as well as in other sports. Russia’s athletic strength has stopped declining and started growing rapidly thanks to the great support of the government and companies. After winning the bid to host the 2012 Olympics, the United Kingdom has increased its support for competitive sports, and won more Olympic-type sports championships than before, not to mention the host nation advantage. Germany, Australia, Japan, and South Korea are strong competitors in certain Olympic sports. Overall, competition at the London Olympics will be fiercer than ever before.
