The Sochi Olympics has increased Russia`s prestige in the international arena and gave rise to the development of the physical education and sport in the country.
MOSCOW, March 18, 2014. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning the memories that Russians will keep about the Olympics, as well as their opinions about the impact of hosting the Winter Olympic Games.
For 44% of Russians the most memorable moments are the victories of Russian figure skaters. The closing and opening ceremonies impressed 18% of Russians. Three medals won in the men`s ski marathon will be remembered by 18% of respondents. Negative emotions concerning the hockey failure were expressed by 15% of Russians. Twelve percent of Russians will remember the performance of the Russian biathletes; 8% will keep the short track victories and the gold of Viktor Ahn in their memories. According to 7% of Russians, the most precious thing is that Russian team took the first place in the overall medal count.
The Closing Ceremony of the XXII Winter Olympic Games will remain forever in the minds of Russians (it was watched by two-thirds of Russians - 61%). Forty-one percent call it vivid and colorful. Nine percent of respondents will remember the tears of the Olympic Mishka, 7% - the scale, and 4% - high-quality performance. Negative emotions come to zero: three-quarters failed to remember anything negative; 12% stressed that they liked absolutely everything.
Fifty-one percent of Russians are confident that the Winter Olympic Games have strengthened the prestige of Russia in the international arena; 40% believe that the Games gave rise to the development of the physical education and sport in Russia. More than one-quarter of Russians (28%) mention the growth of national consciousness and patriotism. Other 22% believe that Sochi has become an international level resort. Negative consequences of the Sochi Winter Games include the reduced financing of other important objects (25%), the growth of real estate prices in Sochi (20%), and the flowering of corruption (14%).
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on March 1-2, 2014. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. Data are weighted by gender, age, education, working status and type of settlement. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
Could you remember two or three moments of the Sochi Olympics? (open-ended question, not more than 3 answers, % of those who followed the Olympic Games) | |
| Total respondents |
First places in figure skating | 44 |
Opening and Closing Ceremonies | 18 |
Three medals in men`s 50 km ski marathon | 18 |
Hockey failure | 15 |
Biathletes` performance | 12 |
Victory in short track, gold of Viktor Ahn | 8 |
First place in overall medal count | 7 |
Bobsleigh | 5 |
Refusal of Plyuschenko to take part in the competition | 4 |
Lugers` performance | 2 |
Snowboard victory | 2 |
Skaters | 2 |
the entire Olympics, perfect organization | 2 |
Gold in skeleton | 1 |
Women`s curling | 1 |
Freestyle | 1 |
Other | 1 |
Don`t know | 9 |
Did you watch the Closing Ceremony of the Sochi Olympics? If yes, what did you like/dislike? (open-ended question , any number of answers, % of those who watched the closing ceremony) | |||
I liked … | I did not like… | ||
Everything; beautiful, vivid, and colorful ceremony | 41 | None | 12 |
Tears of the Olympic Mishka | 9 | Too much money spent | 3 |
The scale | 7 | Too long and boring | 2 |
The whole organization | 4 | Too many things: ballet, music, flying children | 2 |
Olympics mascots | 4 | Mishka was interesting | 1 |
Theatrical performance | 4 | No soul | 1 |
Imitation of the ring failure | 3 | No single theme, no sequence | 1 |
Fireworks | 3 | Too pathetic | 1 |
Reminiscent of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games | 2 | Why the pianos was moved | 1 |
The way the Olympic flame was put out | 2 | The final song | 1 |
Medals ceremonies, parade of Russian athletes | 2 | The ceremony was staged by foreigners | 1 |
Ballet | 2 | Other | 1 |
Showing Russian history | 2 | Don`t know | 75 |
Ship with children | 2 |
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Music | 2 |
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Children choir | 1 |
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Denis Matsuev playing piano | 1 |
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Circus performance | 1 |
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Russian writers scene | 1 |
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Other | 2 |
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Don`t know | 19 |
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In your opinion, what impact did hosting the Winter Games have on Russia? (close-ended question, not more than 3 answers) | |
| Total respondents |
Russian image was improved; international position has strengthened | 51 |
They gave rise to the development of physical education and sport in the country | 40 |
National consciousness and patriotism of Russians has strengthened | 28 |
Reduced financing of other objects (social projects et cet.) | 25 |
The Games gave incentive to develop the Sochi region and to create an international level resort | 22 |
Prices for housing, real estate and land have increased | 20 |
Corruption has flourished | 14 |
New objects built for the Games will not be used but the maintenance will take money | 12 |
Russian economy has grown/Investments came to Sochi | 8 |
Construction of the Olympic objects damaged the environment of the Caucasus region | 6 |
Other | 1 |
Don`t know | 2 |
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!