MOSCOW, 3 February 2022. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a study describing the Russian opinions and predictions related to 2022 Winter Olympics to be held February 4-20 in Beijing.
Most of Russians are somewhat aware of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games (83%). One-third of Russians are well aware (39%); 44% have heard of the Olympic Games but do not know any details. Russians aged 25-34 and 60 and older are most informed about the Olympics (92% and 95% respectively).
More than half of Russians are going to watch the Olympics (66%). Seventeen percent of respondents are going to watch all the sport competitions; 7% will watch only those events the Russian athletes have chances to win medals in; 42% are going to watch only competitions they are interested in. Thirty-two percent of respondents are not going to follow the Winter Olympics.
Russians are largely going to watch biathlon (33%) and figure skating (32%); one in five are interested in hockey (22%) and skiing (20%); 7% will be watching speed skaters.
When asked about the Russian athletes performing at Beijing Winter Olympics, most of Russians mentioned skier Alexander Bolshunov and biathlete Alexander Loginov, figure skaters Alexander Trusova, Anna Shcherbakova, Kamila Valieva (3%, for each) and biathlete Eduard Latypov (2%). Most of respondents failed to name athletes (89%).
Russians consider that Russian athletes will make it to top three in overall medal count (67%); one in four respondents said the Russian athletes will take the first place (25%); 42% said Russia would be second or third; 15% pointed to fourth or fifth places. Those who do not think Russia will be a leader in medal count say the first place will be held by China (33%), the USA (7%) or Norway (3%).
According to Russians, Russia will gain more gold medals at Beijing Olympics than at the previous Olympics 2018 (42%). One-third of Russians think the number of medals will be the same (28%); 13% point to lower number of medals.
Russians consider that Russian athletes have more chances to win Olympic medals in figure skating (44%), biathlon (34%), hockey (24%) and ski sports (21%). Half of Russians aged 45-59 and those aged 60 and older expect medals in figure skating (51% and 54, respectively).
Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted January 29, 2022. A total of 1,600 of Russians aged 18 and older took part in the survey. Results are based on telephone interviews. Stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers was used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey
In February Beijing is hosting Winter Olympics. Do you know (have you heard or do you hear for the first time) about that? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Ages 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
I heard something but I do not know any details | 44 | 41 | 56 | 49 | 39 | 40 |
I am well aware of that | 39 | 10 | 15 | 33 | 53 | 56 |
I heard about it for the first time | 16 | 49 | 29 | 18 | 8 | 4 |
Don’t know
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Are you going to follow the upcoming Winter Olympics, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Ages 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Yes but I am going to watch only the competitions I am interested in | 42 | 34 | 36 | 37 | 46 | 48 |
No I am not going to watch the Olympics | 32 | 51 | 49 | 41 | 23 | 16 |
Yes I am going to watch all sport competitions regularly | 17 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 26 |
Yes but I am going to watch only the competitions Russian athletes have chances to win medals in | 7 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 8 |
Don’t know | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
What sport competitions are you going to follow? (open-ended question, up to 5 answers, % of total respondents who are going to watch competitions; data calculated in % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Biathlon | 33 |
Figure skating | 32 |
Hockey | 22 |
Skiing | 20 |
Speed skating | 7 |
Cross-country skiing | 6 |
Curling | 4 |
Ski jumping | 4 |
Luge | 3 |
Alpine skiing | 3 |
Bobsleigh | 3 |
Short track | 1 |
Snowboard | 1 |
Freestyle | 1 |
Skeleton | 1 |
Other | 13 |
Don’t know | 6 |
I am not going to watch sport competitions (those who did not answer the question) | 34 |
Do you know what Russian athletes are going to perform at Beijing Winter Olympics? If you know, can you name them? (open-ended question, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Alexander Bolshunov | 3 |
Alexander Loginov | 3 |
Alexandra Trusova | 3 |
Anna Shcherbakova | 3 |
Kamila Valieva | 3 |
Eduard Latypov | 2 |
Ivan Bukin | 1 |
Irina Kazakevich | 1 |
Anton Babikov | 1 |
Maksim Tsvetkov | 1 |
Kristina Reztsova | 1 |
Daniil Serokhvostov | 1 |
Saud Khalili | 1 |
Other | 11 |
Don’t know | 89 |
In your opinion, what winter sport disciplines do the Russian athletes have more chances to win Olympics medals in? Can you name them? (open-ended question, up to 5 answers, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Figure skating | 44 |
Biathlon | 34 |
Hockey | 24 |
Skiing (no precision) | 21 |
Cross-country skiing | 8 |
Speed skating | 5 |
Sliding sport (no precision) | 3 |
Bobsleigh | 3 |
Ski jumping | 2 |
Curling | 2 |
Types of skating (no precision) | 2 |
Alpine skiing | 1 |
Skeleton | 1 |
Luge | 1 |
Short track | 1 |
Snowboard | 1 |
Freestyle | 1 |
Other | 7 |
No such disciplines | 1 |
Don’t know | 32 |
In your opinion, how will the Russian athletes perform at Beijing Winter Olympics? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
They will be SECOND OR THIRD | 42 |
They will take THE FIRST PLACE in overall count | 25 |
They will be FOURTH OR FIFTH | 15 |
Russian athletes WILL NOT MAKE IT to top five in overall medal count | 4 |
Don’t know | 14 |
Based on your assessments will the Russian athletes win more, fewer or the same number of gold medals at Beijing Olympics than they won at Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Ages 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
More medals | 42 | 57 | 40 | 41 | 41 | 40 |
The same number of medals | 28 | 20 | 27 | 26 | 29 | 30 |
Fewer | 13 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 10 |
Don’t know | 17 | 11 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 21 |
In your opinion, what country will be the leader in overall medal count? (open-ended question, one answer, % of those who think that Russian athletes will NOT take the first ranking, calculated in % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
China | 33 |
USA | 7 |
Norway | 3 |
Japan | 2 |
Another country | 6 |
Don’t know | 24 |