The interest in the upcoming Olympic Games is extremely high.
MOSCOW, February 6, 2018. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a study devoted to the opening of the XXIII Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang.
The Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games have become a high profile event in Russia. An overwhelming majority of Russians (89%) heard of the Pyeongchang Olympics; 77% are going to follow all or part of sports competitions (as a comparison, in February 2014, the percentage of those who were going to follow the Sochi Olympics was 73%).
Every sixth respondent (17%) is going to watch only those competitions where Russian athletes have chances to win medals: figure skating (42%), biathlon (26%), ice hockey (24%) and ski sports (24%). These disciplines are considered to be the most spectacular in general. However biathlon is the most popular: every second Russian (out of all Russians who will be watching the Olympic Games) is going to watch it (50%). This is followed by figure skating (46%), hockey (37%), and skiing (34%).
Russians are well aware of the suspension of the Russian team (the approved athletes will perform under a neutral flag) (92%); half of respondents (52%) say that the measures made by the Russian authorities to help Russian athletes were not sufficient (they are opposed by 35%). Sixty-two percent of Russians consider that those athletes who will perform at the Games defend the Russia’s honor; on the contrary 24% perceive them as individual athletes.
The VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on February 2-3, 2018. The survey involved 2,000 Russians aged 18 and over, and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. 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 2.2%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
The 2014 results are based on household survey.
In February Pyeongchang will host the Winter Olympics. Do you know/have you heard/do you hear for the first time about that? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and more |
Yes, I am well aware of that | 49 | 20 | 35 | 45 | 61 | 62 |
I heard something but I do not know any details | 40 | 51 | 44 | 46 | 35 | 34 |
This is the first time I hear about that | 10 | 29 | 21 | 8 | 4 | 3 |
Don’t know | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Are you going to follow the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | ||
| II.2014 * | II.2018 |
Yes, I will follow the broadcasts of all competitions on a regular basis | 26 | 20 |
Yes, but I will watch only those broadcasts where Russian athletes performing under the Olympic flag have chances to win medals | 10 | 17 |
Yes, but I will watch only the broadcasts of those competitions I am interested in | 37 | 40 |
No, I will not follow the Winter Olympics | 24 | 18 |
I will go to Pyeongchang*** | - | 0,4 |
I did not know that the Winter Games would take place **** | 0,2 | - |
Don’t know | 3 | 5 |
* In 2014 the question referred to the Sochi Winter Olympics
**In 2014 the answer option was “Yes, but I will watch only those broadcasts where Russian athletes can win medals”
*** In 2014 this answer option was not proposed
**** In 2018 this answer option was not proposed
Can you name those sport disciplines where Russian athletes performing under the Olympic flag have chances to win medals? (open-ended question, not more than 5 answers, answers mentioned by at least 1% of respondents) | ||
| II.2014 * | II.2018 |
Figure skating | 51 | 42 |
Biathlon | 34 | 26 |
Hockey | 28 | 24 |
Skiing, cross country skiing | 22 | 24 |
Luge, bobsleigh | 6 | 13 |
Speed skating | 7 | 8 |
Skating sports | 0 | 3 |
Curling | 3 | 2 |
Skeleton | 1 | 2 |
Short track skating | 1 | 2 |
Ski jumping | 2 | 1 |
Freestyle | 2 | 1 |
Snowboard | 1 | 1 |
All the competitions | 1 | 1 |
None | 1 | 1 |
Other | 1 | 6 |
Don’t know | 18 | 36 |
* In 2014 the question referred to the Sochi Winter Olympics
What sport events will you follow first? | ||
II.2014 * | II.2018 | |
Biathlon | 41 | 50 |
Figure skating | 46 | 46 |
Hockey | 36 | 37 |
Skiing | 25 | 34 |
Bobsled / luge | 9 | 19 |
Speed skating | 8 | 13 |
Alpine skiing / slalom | 3 | 11 |
Ski jumping | 4 | 5 |
Curling | 4 | 5 |
Other skating sports | 0 | 4 |
Skeleton | 1 | 3 |
Short track skating | 1 | 3 |
I will watch all the competitions | 5 | 3 |
Snowboard | 2 | 2 |
Any type of luge sport | 0 | 2 |
Freestyle | 3 | 1 |
Don’t know | 5 | 17 |
* In 2014 the question referred to the Sochi Winter Olympics
The Russian team was suspended from the 2018 Olympics. Russian athletes will perform under a neutral flag of the International Olympic Committee. Certain Russian athletes were not invited to take part in the Pyeongchang Olympic Games. Do you know/have you heard something/do you hear for the first time about that? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St.Petersburg | Million cities | More than 500 ths | 100–500 ths | Less than 100 ths | Rural area | |
Yes, I am well aware of that | 57 | 69 | 59 | 64 | 57 | 56 | 47 | |
I heard something but I do not know any details | 38 | 29 | 36 | 31 | 39 | 39 | 45 | |
This is the first time I hear about that | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 8 | |
Which statement do you most agree with? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | ||
| Total respondents | |
Regarding the doping scandal involving Russia, the Russian authorities did their best to make it possible for the Russian athletes to participate in Olympics | 35 | |
Regarding the doping scandal involving Russia, the efforts made by the Russian authorities to make it possible for the Russian athletes to participate in Olympics were not sufficient | 52 | |
Don’t know | 13 | |
Which statement do you most agree with? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | ||
| Total respondents | |
Russian athletes performing under the Olympic flag represent and defend the honour of Russia | 62 | |
Russian athletes performing under the Olympic flag take part as individuals, on behalf of themselves | 24 | |
Don’t know | 14 | |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!