Bergvall system

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The Bergvall system was a variation of the traditional knockout tournament system.

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It was used at the 1912, 1920 and 1924 Summer Olympics after being devised by Erik Bergvall, a Swedish water polo player, journalist and sports official who wanted to improve on the traditional knockout method used in Olympic competitions.

Believing that the traditional knockout system was only fair in deciding the gold medal winner, Bergvall advocated separate competitions should also be held for the silver and bronze medals, probably not knowing a similar system had been in use for sports competitions in the United States as early as 1884.[ citation needed ]

Bergvall also believed that teams knocked out in the early rounds of the main gold medal tournament should be given a second chance: all the teams knocked out by the gold medal winner, including the losing finalist, should compete in another knockout competition for the silver medal, then all the teams knocked out by the gold and silver medallists would compete in a third competition for the bronze.

At the 1912, 1920 and 1924 Games, the Bergvall system was used to decide the water polo, while at the 1920 Games it was also used for the football, the ice hockey and the tug of war. [1]

Although the system is fair, there are two intrinsic flaws: firstly, the gold medal final is held in the middle of the tournament, instead of at the end, and secondly, defeated competitors have to remain ready to compete if those who lost to them are to have any chance of winning a medal.

Because of these flaws, the system was dropped by Olympic organisers after the 1924 Olympics, and was abandoned by the NCAA in 1931.

Sample 1

Gold medal round

First round Semifinals Final
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain  (GBR)2
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States  (USA)0 Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain  (GBR)2
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium  (BEL)0
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain  (GBR)2
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands  (NED)0
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands  (NED)2
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy  (ITA)0

Silver medal round

First round Final
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium  (BEL)2
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States  (USA)0 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium  (BEL)0
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands  (NED)2

Bronze medal round

First round Final
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States  (USA)2
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy  (ITA)0 US flag 48 stars.svg  United States  (USA)0
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium  (BEL)2

Sample 2

Gold medal round

First round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain  (GBR)9
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg  Spain  (ESP)1Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg  Spain  (ESP)0
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy  (ITA)1 [2] Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain  (GBR)7
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States  (USA)2
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States  (USA)7
Flag of Greece (1828-1978).svg  Greece  (GRE)0
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain  (GBR)3
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium  (BEL)11Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium  (BEL)2
Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland  (SUI)0 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium  (BEL)2
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands  (NED)1
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium  (BEL)5
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE)11Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE)3
Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia  (TCH)0 Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE)7
Flag of Brazil (1889-1960).svg  Brazil  (BRA)5Flag of Brazil (1889-1960).svg  Brazil  (BRA)3
Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)1

Silver medal round

First round Final
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States  (USA)5
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg  Spain  (ESP)0 US flag 48 stars.svg  United States  (USA)2
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium  (BEL)7

Bronze medal round

First round Semifinals Final
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE)9
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands  (NED)7Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands  (NED)1
Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia  (TCH)0 Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE)5
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States  (USA)0
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States  (USA)7
Flag of Greece (1828-1978).svg  Greece  (GRE)5Flag of Greece (1828-1978).svg  Greece  (GRE)0
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy  (ITA)1

References

  1. Ove Karlsson (January 2000). "The Bergvall System" (PDF). Journal of Olympic History. 8 (1): 45-46. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-08-08. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  2. Italy forfeited the match in extra time.