Olympics ranking and benchmarking based on cross efficiency evaluation method and cluster analysis: the case of Sydney 2000

In this paper, an extended tool of DEA, namely cross efficiency evaluation method, was used to measure the performance of the nations in the Summer Olympic Games of Sydney 2000. The model in the paper considered two inputs (GNP per capita and population) and a single output (the weighted sum of amounts of medals won). The advantages of the proposed model rest on the fact that it provides for a unique ranking of the participants and eliminates the unrealistic weight schemes without requiring the elicitation of extra weight restrictions. The average cross efficiencies were calculated and were compared to those originated from the radial efficiency method and other previous works. Also, cluster analysis technique was used to select the more appropriate targets for poorly performing countries to use as benchmarks.