Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

Sport competitions of track and field athletes, gymnasts and water sports athletes are what attract Russians most in the Olympic Games.

MOSCOW, August 4, 2016.  Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the data of the survey describing whether Russians are going to watch the Rio Olympics, and in what sport competitions they expect Russian athletes to gain medals.

Sixty-nine percent of Russians heard about the Olympic Games less than one month before the launch of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games; most of them (70%) plan to keep track of the sports competitions (including 23% of those who would watch all sport events regularly).

Most of Russians are interested in track and field, water sports and gymnastics competitions. The most popular sport is track and field: 37% of Russians who heard about the Olympic Games would watch it. Swimming and water polo are attracted by 19%; gymnastics – by 13%. The top five most popular sports also involves football (12%) and volleyball (8%).

Medal count predictions made by respondents are as follows: 24% hope that Russia will have medals in track and field. Every fifth (20%) expects medals in water sports. Thirteen percent believe that Russian artistic and rhythmic gymnasts will gain medals.

More than one-quarter of Russians 29%) expect Russia to be at the top of the overall medal count. Thirteen percent of respondents mention China; 12% - the U.S.A.

The VCIOM survey was carried out on July 9-10, 2016 in 130 settlements, 46 regions and 9 federal districts of Russia. The sample size involved 1600 persons. The survey was conducted with multi-stage stratified sample based on general rule of walking and quotas at the final selection stage; the sample is representative of the Russian population aged 18 and over, according to sex, age, education, type of settlement.  The margin of error (taking into account the design effect) with 95% confidence interval does not exceed 3.5%. The survey method is community-based formalized face-to-face interviews. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the field work can introduce bias into the survey.

In August 2016, Rio de Janeiro will host the Olympic Games. 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 over

I am well aware of that

33

23

29

34

32

45

I heard something but I do not know any details

36

39

34

33

36

38

This is the first time that I hear about that

30

38

36

32

30

16

Don’t know

1

0

1

1

2

1

Will you keep track of the Rio Olympic Games or not?
(closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who knows or heard about the Olympic Games)

 

2014*

2016

Yes, I will watch live broadcasts of all sport events regularly

26

23

Yes, but I will watch only broadcasts of those competitions where Russia has chances to win medals

10

15

Yes, but I will watch only those competitions I am interested in

37

32

No, I will not watch the Olympic Games

24

26

I did not know about the Olympics

0

0

I will go to the Rio Olympics**

0

0,2

Don’t know

3

4

*In 2014, the question referred to the upcoming Sochi Olympics

** In 2014, there was no this answer option

Which sports are you going to watch first?
(open-ended question, any number of answers, % of those who heard about the Olympics)

 

Total respondents

Track and field

37

Water sports (polo, swimming, acrobatics, synchronized swimming, diving)

19

Gymnastics

13

Football  

12

Volleyball  

8

Wrestling  

5

Boxing

5

Basketball

4

Weightlifting

3

Tennis

3

Rowing  

1

Cycling

1

Other

2

I am not going to watch sport competitions

24

Anything  / any / everyone

5

Don’t know

16

In your opinion, in what sport competitions do Russian athletes have chances to win gold medals during the Rio Olympic Games? (open-ended question, any number of answers, %)

 

Total respondents

Track and field

24

Water sports (polo, swimming, acrobatics, synchronized swimming, diving)

20

Gymnastics (artistic/rhythmic)

13

Wrestling  

6

Volleyball  

5

Weightlifting

4

Boxing

3

Tennis  

2

Football  

2

Basketball

1

Fencing

1

Rowing  

1

Shooting  

1

Cycling

1

Other

1

None

0,4

I am not going to watch sport competitions

15

Anything  / any / everyone

4

Don’t know

39

In your opinion, which country will be at the top of the overall medal count?
(open-ended question, one answer, answers of at least 1% of respondents)

 

2010*

2014**

2016

Russia

43

51

29

China

8

8

13

U.S.

7

7

12

Germany

3

2

3

Brazil

0

0

1

France

0

0

1

Others

3

5

2

Don’t know

36

27

39

*In 2010, the question referred to the upcoming Vancouver Olympics  

** In 2014, the question referred to the upcoming Sochi Olympics

Note: Using materials from the websites 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.

 

Read the article in Russian