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|will [[atheist]] nations underachieve in team sports?

|will [[atheist]] nations underachieve in team sports?

|In women's soccer, France defeated Sweden in the quarterfinals but lost to Japan in the semifinals. They will play the USA-Canada loser for the bronze.  Great Britain lost to Canada in the quarterfinals.  

|In women's soccer, France defeated Sweden in the quarterfinals but lost to Japan in the semifinals. They lost to Canada in the bronze medal game.

On the men's side, Great Britain won their group with 2 wins and a draw. They will face South Korea in the quarterfinals.  

On the men's side, Great Britain won their group with 2 wins and a draw. They lost to South Korea in the quarterfinals.  

Australia failed to qualify for either soccer event. This was their first time attempting to qualify out of the Asian Zone instead of the significantly weaker Oceanic Zone, so this may have been a factor. They will, however, send teams in most other team sports, since they qualify from the Oceanic Zone in those.  

Australia failed to qualify for either soccer event. This was their first time attempting to qualify out of the Asian Zone instead of the significantly weaker Oceanic Zone, so this may have been a factor. They will, however, send teams in most other team sports, since they qualify from the Oceanic Zone in those.  

In women's basketball, France won Group B with a 5-0 record, while Australia finished 4-1 in the same group. Great Britain is 0-4 and cannot advance to the quarterfinals, but still has a Group Stage game against also winless Brazil.

In women's basketball, France won Group B with a 5-0 record, while Australia finished 4-1 in the same group. Great Britain is 0-5. France and Australia won their quarterfinals. France will face Russia in the semifinals while Australia will face the United States.

 

France will play the Czech Republic in their quarterfinal, while Australia defeated China and will play the USA in the semifinals.  

   

   

In women's handball, Great Britain finished 0-5-0 and France is 4-0-1 (W-L-D). France will face Montenegro in the quarterfinals. Handball is almost unknown in GB, with only a dozen or so clubs, in stark contrast to most other countries in Western Europe.

In women's handball, Great Britain finished 0-5-0 and France is 4-0-1 (W-L-D). France lost to Montenegro the quarterfinals. Handball is almost unknown in GB, with only a dozen or so clubs, in stark contrast to most other countries in Western Europe.

In men's basketball, Great Britain finished 1-4 in the group stage and was eliminated. Australia finished 3-2, fourth in their group, and will face the USA in the quarterfinals. France finished 4-1 and will face Spain in the quarterfinals. Basketball is a minor sport in GB, much less played than in continental Europe, and GB would have considered themselves lucky if they had won a match.

In men's basketball, Great Britain finished 1-4 in the group stage and was eliminated. Australia finished 3-2, fourth in their group, and lost to the USA in the quarterfinals. France finished 4-1 and will face Spain in the quarterfinals. Basketball is a minor sport in GB, much less played than in continental Europe, and GB would have considered themselves lucky if they had won a match.

In men's volleyball, Great Britain finished 0-5 and Australia finished 2-3. Neither advanced to the quarterfinals. Volleyball is very much a minor sport in GB. They only had a volleyball team in the Olympics because they were host nation and they did not expect to win any of their matches.

In men's volleyball, Great Britain finished 0-5 and Australia finished 2-3. Neither advanced to the quarterfinals. Volleyball is very much a minor sport in GB. They only had a volleyball team in the Olympics because they were host nation and they did not expect to win any of their matches.

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|Similarly, will atheist nations underachieve in general?

|Similarly, will atheist nations underachieve in general?

|China, an officially atheist and communist country, leads the standings with 30 gold medals. Despite having more than three times the population of the United States and despite having a national program designed to produce champion athletes, China has only one more medal than the United States (61-60), and only two more gold medals (30-28). About half of the American medals came in the obscure sport of swimming, which allowed the US to artificially increase its medal take. Despite having a population only one-fifth of that of the US, increasingly atheistic Great Britain has more than half as many gold medals, and more than half as many medals overall as the US, and ranks third overall. Great Britain did not win its first gold medal until Day 5 (August 1), because few of the medal competitions in which GB is strong (rowing, cycling, canoeing especially) were competed for until that day. In the 2008 Olympics, Great Britain won 47 total medals, which they will probably surpass. The last few Olympic Games have seen hosts surpass their totals from the previous games by 20-30%. Care should therefore be taken when looking at the British total.

|China, an officially atheist and communist country, leads the standings with 36 gold medals. Despite having more than three times the population of the United States and despite having a national program designed to produce champion athletes, China has fewer total medals than the United States (83-78), and only one more gold medals (36-35). About half of the American medals came in the obscure sport of swimming, which allowed the US to artificially increase its medal take. Despite having a population only one-fifth of that of the US, increasingly atheistic Great Britain has more than half as many gold medals, and more than half as many medals overall as the US, and ranks third overall. Great Britain did not win its first gold medal until Day 5 (August 1), because few of the medal competitions in which GB is strong (rowing, cycling, canoeing especially) were competed for until that day. In the 2008 Olympics, Great Britain won 47 total medals, which they will probably surpass. The last few Olympic Games have seen hosts surpass their totals from the previous games by 20-30%. Care should therefore be taken when looking at the British total.

The host factor would not affect Australia's and France's totals. Australia has 20 medals, but only a single gold medal. France has 25 medals, of which 8 are gold. In 2008, Australia won 46 medals and France won 41. Australia won 14 golds that year, a total that they are unlikely to surpass at this point.

The host factor would not affect Australia's and France's totals. Australia has 27 medals, but only six gold medals. France has 28 medals, of which 8 are gold. In 2008, Australia won 46 medals and France won 41. Australia won 14 golds that year, a total that they are unlikely to surpass at this point.

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|wrestling

|wrestling

|men's basketball

|men's basketball

|will selfless play by outspoken [[Christian]] [[Kevin Durant]] overcome ball-hogging by [[Overrated Sports Stars|Overrated Sports Star]]s [[Kobe Bryant]] and [[LeBron James]] on [[USA Basketball]]?  

|will selfless play by outspoken [[Christian]] [[Kevin Durant]] overcome ball-hogging by [[Overrated Sports Stars|Overrated Sports Star]]s [[Kobe Bryant]] and [[LeBron James]] on [[USA Basketball]]?  

|After a slow start, the United States beat France 98-71 in their first game. LeBron James had 9 points in 25 minutes, while Kobe Bryant was limited to 12 minutes but scored 10 points. Kevin Durant led all players from both teams with 22 points.  In their third game, the United States blew out Nigeria, 156-83, setting records for points scored and margin of victory. Durant, Bryant, and LeBron all received limited minutes due to the blowout. Durant scored 14 points in 17 minutes, James scored 6 points in 11 minutes, and Bryant scored 16 points in 11 minutes.

|The USA will face Argentina in their semifinal. They are undefeated so far, but had a close matchup against Lithuania.   

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|men's tennis

|men's tennis

: Denmark - 7 in 2008, 9 in 2012

: Denmark - 7 in 2008, 9 in 2012

: Iceland - 1 in 2008, 0 in 2012

: Iceland - 1 in 2008, 0 in 2012

: Netherlands - 25 in 2000, 15 in 2012

: Netherlands - 25 in 2000, 16 in 2012

: Norway - 6 in 2004, 3 in 2012

: Norway - 6 in 2004, 3 in 2012

: Portugal - 2 in 2008, 1 in 2012

: Portugal - 2 in 2008, 1 in 2012

: Spain - 19 in 2004, 9 in 2012

: Spain - 19 in 2004, 9 in 2012

: Sweden - 5 in 2008, 7 in 2012

: Sweden - 5 in 2008, 7 in 2012

: Total - 94 expected, 67 actual

: Total - 94 expected, 68 actual

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