After the weight lifting event, the announcer said “Either Holland was better than Italy, or Greece won gold.”

An Italian reporter heard that, and commented that even knowing his own country’s final place, he wasn’t able to deduce the other places.

Curiously, a Dutch reporter who knew Holland’s final place, and who hadn’t heard the other reporter, made exactly the same remark.

Which were the final places?

“Either Holland was better than Italy, or Greece won gold.” At this point Greece is in the lead for the gold with Italy second for the Silver and Holland third place. If Holland beat Italy Holland would be tied for the gold with Greece and Italy would get the silver or the bronz depending on if Holland scored high enough to beat out Greece

An Italian reporter heard that, and commented that even knowing his own country’s final place, he wasn’t able to deduce the other places. Thus Italy would be in third place leaving Greece and Holland at odds for First and second place depending on how much Holland beat Italy.

Curiously, a Dutch reporter who knew Holland’s final place, and who hadn’t heard the other reporter, made exactly the same remark. With Holland tied for 1st place with Greece that leaves Italy in second place. Unless Holland beat Greece putting Greece in second place.
Remember a tie for the gold goes down just that way.

Posted by gary on 2003-11-14 20:28:37