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 2014, the question referred to the upcoming Sochi Olympics

** In 2014, there was no this answer option

*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.