Sir, As the Olympic Games progress, we are regularly reminded by the BBC and other media of “where we stand in the medals table”.

This table is always calculated by putting any country with a gold medal above all the others, even if their athletes have secured any number of silver or bronze. So, for example, after the first four days, India (with one gold) stands at no 18 while France (with no golds, seven silvers, two bronzes) is at 20, despite having achieved eight more medals.

Surely the Olympic medals table should be calculated along the same lines as the Norrington table, which famously rates Oxford colleges according to the number of graduates achieving firsts, seconds and thirds — three points for a first, two for a second and one for a third. If the same principle were applied, India would have three points while France would boast sixteen.

The following table shows the top ten countries as they would stand after four days’ competition under what I modestly propose to call the “Watson system”, with original position in brackets:

1. China (1)
2. US (2)
3. South Korea (3)
4. Italy (5)
5. Australia (6)
6. Germany (4)
7. France (20)
8. Japan (7)
9 = Great Britain (9)
9 = Dem Rep Korea (11)

While some countries (ie, the top three and, interestingly, Great Britain) would remain in the same position, this will almost certainly change as the competition progresses, and the medals table should surely reflect the overall picture more fairly.

Geoff Watson
Downend, Bristol

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