MOSCOW, March 4, 2010. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning assess of the results of national team performance in Vancouver.
Olympic Games in Vancouver attracted attention of 75% of Russians: every fourth watched TB broadcast of all sports (25%). Every second (50%) - selectively. 23% of respondents didn't follow Olympic Games. It's noticeable that our fellow-citizens took more interest to Olympic Games in Beijing: every third Russian watched TV broadcast (32%). Most attention were given by inhabitants of Moscow and respondents of 35-44 years old: 33 and 29% of respondents
Figure skating as usual was the most popular sport among viewers (39%, in 2006 - 57%), then goes hockey (34% vs. 41% in 2006) and biathlon (33%). As well very fascinating kind of sport for Russian viewers was cross country skiing (23%). Other sports were not so interesting: bobsleigh and tobogganing was watched by 7% of respondents, curling, speed skating and ski jumping - by 2%, snowboard, slalom and freestyle - by 1%.
Emotions from performance of the national team differ from ones during Olympic Games in Turin. In 2006 the most of Russians were proud of our team (50%), now they feel disappointed (46%). The performance of Russian sportsmen seemed to the respondents less interesting than four years ago in Turin (18% vs. 35%), it even discontented the viewers (from 1% to 14%).
The pride was felt by the inhabitants of Southern district (16%). High estimate to the performance of Russian sportsmen was given equally by all respondents excluding those of 18024 years old (9-11% vs. 5%). Disappointment was felt by the inhabitants of North-Western district (55%) and the respondents of 45-59 years old, irritation - be the inhabitants of Southern district and elder people (16%).
If the performance of Russian team in Turin corresponded with expectations of our fans (47%) and even surpassed it (26%), this year the results didn't justified the hopes of most Russians (70%). More disappointed are the inhabitants of Siberia (82%), less - the inhabitants of Far East (58%). In general the performance of the national team equally disappointed all respondents (70-74%) excluding elder people (only 66%).
In comparison with 2006 the general estimate of our team diametrically differs: if the results of Turin were assessed by most Russians as successful or even excellent (73%), now public opinion moved to reverse direction - 77% of Russians considers the performance of Russian sportsmen to be failure. Men are more inclined to give negative assess than women (46% vs. 33%). The higher level of education of our fellow-citizens the more often they criticize our sportsmen (57% of poor educated vs. 83% of well-educated).
The initiative Russian opinion poll was conducted on March 6-7, 2010. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4 %.
Did you follow Olympic Games in Vancouver? Следили ли Вы за ходом Олимпийских Игр в Ванкувере? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
August 2008 (Beijing) | March 2010 (Vancouver) | |
Yes, I watched TV broadcast of all sports regularly | 32 | 25 |
Yes, I watched TV broadcast of sports in which Russia could win | 15 | 17 |
Yes, I watched TV broadcast of favorite sports | 30 | 33 |
No | 22 | 23 |
Hard to tell | 2 | 2 |
Contest in which kinds of sport do you like to watch? | ||
March 2006 (Turin) | March 2010 (Vancouver) | |
Figure skating | 57 | 39 |
Hickey | 41 | 34 |
Biathlon | 36 | 33 |
Cross country skiing | 36 | 23 |
Bobsleigh, tobogganing | 8 | 7 |
Curling | 1 | 2 |
Speed skating | 7 | 2 |
Ski jumping | 1 | 2 |
Snowboard | 1 | 1 |
Freestyle | 0 | 1 |
Slalom | 0 | 1 |
Mountain skiing | 2 | 0 |
All | 0 | 2 |
Other | 1 | 1 |
Hard to tell | 12 | 25 |
What did you feel more often watching the national team performance on Olympic Games in Vancouver? (close-ended question, one answer, % of those who watched Olympic Games) | ||
March 2006 (Turin) | March 2010 (Vancouver) | |
Pride, patriotism | 50 | 9 |
Disappointment, sadness | 4 | 46 |
Interest | 35 | 18 |
Discontent, irritation | 1 | 14 |
No strong emotions | 6 | 8 |
Hard to tell | 4 | 5 |
How much do results of our team performance correspond with your expectations? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
March 2006 (Turin) | March 2010 (Vancouver) | |
They performed better than I expected | 26 | 1 |
Approximately as I expected | 47 | 14 |
Worse than I expected | 16 | 70 |
Hard to tell | 12 | 16 |
Do you find successful or unsuccessful the results of Olympic Games for Russian team? (закрытый вопрос, один ответ) | ||
March 2006 (Turin) | March 2010 (Vancouver) | |
Excellent | 28 | 1 |
Rather successful | 55 | 9 |
Rather unsuccessful | 10 | 38 |
Failed | 1 | 39 |
Hard to tell | 7 | 14 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or www.wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!
IN BRIEF:
- Olympic Games in Vancouver attracted attention of 75% of Russians. Figure skating contest, hockey, biathlon were the most popular
- If during Olympic Games in Turin our fellow-citizens were proud for Russian sportsmen (50%), now they feel disappointment (46%)
- As viewed by fans the national team gave worse results than they expected
- If Turin Games were considered as successful for Russia (73%), now they say about the failure of the national team (77%)