What the medals tally tells us about the G7 and BRICS

(Reuters) - During the Cold War, the relative power of the United States and the Soviet Union were regularly measured in gold, silver and bronze. The last couple of Olympic Summer Games have been a race between China and the United States, with America triumphing in Athens in 2004, and China, on home turf, overtaking its rival four years later. Many commentators saw that shift as a symbol of U.S. decline and of China's growing economic clout.

The 21st century is likely to be a multi-polar world, however. What does the medal tally say about shifting global power today?