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The Thought Show: Predicting Olympic Medals

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Factual: Life Stories

Predicting Olympic Medals

11/08/2016 GMT

BBC World Service - The Thought Show, Predicting Olympic Medals

How statistics can help to predict how many Olympic medals each nation will win

How statistics can help to predict how many Olympic medals each nation will win, also, do we live in a post factual age where messages of fear persuade us more than the facts.

How can we use statistics to predict how many medals each nation will win? Dr Julia Bredtmann, an economist at the RWI Leibniz Institute for Economic Research, explains the different factors you have to consider to predict Olympic success.

The British-American porn star Candy Charms has become the talk of social media in Iran because she travelled to the Islamic republic to get a nose job. Her story has put the spotlight on Iran as a top destination for rhinoplasty and it has re-ignited a campaign to save the Iranian nose.

Also, do we live in a post factual age where messages of fear dominate? Mike Williams investigates the “Backfire Effect” which means that entrenched views can become more entrenched – when confronted by contradictory facts. 
  
(Photo: Lagoa Stadium - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Credit: Reuters)

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