From NDTV.com via the Associated Press:

If the Summer Olympics were held today, China would win 11 more gold medals than the United States.

That’s the projection of a “relative” Olympic medals table released on Tuesday by the British Olympic Association. The figures are based on results in Olympic sports and disciplines competed at the world level in 2006.

“We’ve looked upon the most appropriate mechanism for gauging the individual sports,” BOA chief executive Simon Clegg said. “European championship results have not been taken into account.”

The US topped the medals list at the 2004 Athens Olympics with 35 golds and 103 total. China won 32 golds and 63 total. Russia had 27 golds and 92 total.

With the next Olympics being held in Beijing in 2008, China is expected to challenge for medal supremacy.[Full Text]