Only China boasts more competitors with world rankings.
By gazing inwards, they have lost ground to Asian competitors in world markets.
More generally, and despite global recession, this much-loved British label continued to post figures that are surely the envy of its esteemed competitors the world over.
Russia figures prominently in Mr. Romney's book, where he calls it one of four competitors for world leadership, along with the United States, China and "violent jihadism" embraced by Iran and terrorist groups.
With nothing left to lose, perhaps BlackBerry will have the courage to disrupt its competitors and world governments.
In fact, though, it is the looming presence of a new competitor, the World Wide Web, that shadows this particular "Sweeney Todd".
Rift has sold more than one million copies and has been a worthier competitor to World of Warcraft than other online fantasy pretenders like Warhammer Online and Age of Conan.
It's clear, therefore, that what Chinese officials want out of Copenhagen is a commitment from developed nations to contribute money and technology to help Chinese industry become more efficient and therefore a better competitor on world markets.
Apart from the 2012 PCC elections, the closest competitor since World War Two appears to be the 18% turnout at the Manchester Central parliamentary by-election, which took place on the same day.
Skier Chemmy Alcott - a triple Olympian and seven-time competitor in World Championships, will carry the Olympic torch in Ealing, shortly after German tennis star Becker took the torch at Northala Fields.
