MOSCOW, July 19, 2007 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information concerning the attitude that Russians have regarding the fact that Sochi is to host Olympic Winter Games 2014.
97% of the respondents already know that our country obtained the right to host Olympic Winter Games. Moreover, the majority of them (75%) "have heard a lot about it". Residents of the both capitals proved to be the most informed of the fact: 100% (96% of them showed maximal interest in the victory of Sochi in the fight for the right of conducting Winter Games). Respondents from the age group of 25-34 years appeared to show the highest degree of interest in this event - 99%.
The fact that Sochi obtained the right to conduct Olympic Winter Games 2014 caused positive feelings among the Russians. Russians felt admiration (41%), hope (32%), respect (25%), sympathy (16%). Only 1% of respondents treated this event with disapproval, another 1% with scepsis. Another 12% treated the event with indifference. These are primarily respondents with low estimation of own financial standing (16%), and also respondents in the age group "60+" (20%). In their turn, young people and respondents, with high estimation of own financial standing, felt "admiration" two times as frequent (51-53%) as older Russians and Russians, dissatisfied with their financial standing (27-32%).
Olympic Games in Sochi are, first of all, important for the residents of the city itself and Krasnodarskiy Kray, as 19% of the respondents identify. 69% of the respondents, however, assume that this is important for the entire country. Respondents with best financial standing and the youngest respondents are especially convinced of this point (73%). Olympic Games re not important, as 6% of the respondents identify (8% of the respondents with low-income and 10% of the "60+" age group agree with that).
92% of Russians do not doubt that Russia will be able to worthily conduct Olympic Winter Games 2014. The share of those not having doubts about the success of Sochi is the greatest among the 18-24 years age group (68%) and among the residents of Moscow and Saint Petersburg (76%).
The expectations of Russians from the Olympic Games 2014 are first of all connected with an increase in the prestige of Russia (52%), the development of gymnastics and sport (48%), the rise of national self-consciousness of Russians (26%).
Muscovites and Petersburgers proved to be the most optimistic as far as the matter is concerned. They, first of all, await the development of gymnastics and sport in country (69%), then improvements in Russia's goodwill (63%). However, not all of them are pleased. Thus, 27% would prefer that the means directed to conducting Olympic Games would be spent on solving social problems, 24% await increases in the prices of real estate and ground, 9% expect ecological problems due to numerous building activities in the health resort zone.
The All-Russia opinion polls were conducted by VCIOM in July 14-15, 2007. 1600 respondents were interviewed each of these times in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.
Do you know that Sochi was selected to host Olympic Winter Games 2014 at a seating of the International Olympic Committee? | ||||||
| Total respondents | Age, years | ||||
18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and older | ||
Yes, I have heard a lot about it | 75 | 78 | 82 | 81 | 79 | 57 |
I have heard something about it | 22 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 37 |
It ist he first time I hear about it | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
Hard to say | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
What did you experience when you learned that Sochi won to host the Olympic Games? | ||||
| Total respondents | Estimation of own financial standing | ||
Very high, high | Middle | low, very low | ||
Admiration | 41 | 51 | 42 | 32 |
Hope | 32 | 28 | 33 | 30 |
Sympathy | 16 | 19 | 16 | 15 |
Respect | 25 | 25 | 25 | 23 |
Trust | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 |
Disappointment | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Distrust | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
Antipathy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Disapproval | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Scepsis | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Hate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Indifference | 12 | 8 | 11 | 16 |
Hard to say | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 |
For whom do you think it is important that the Olympic Games will be conducted in Sochi? | ||||||
| Total respondents | Age, years | ||||
18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and older | ||
It is important fort he whole country, for all Russians | 69 | 77 | 73 | 70 | 69 | 59 |
It is first of all important fort he residents of Sochi and Krasnodarskiy Kray | 19 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 |
It is not really important for our country | 6 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 10 |
Hard to say | 6 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 11 |
Do you think Russia will be able to organize the Winter Games 2014 in a worthy manner? | ||||||
| Total respondents | Type of Settlement | ||||
Moscow and St. Petersburg | More than 500 thousand inhabitants
| 100-500 thousand inhabitants | Less than 100 thousand inhabitants | Villages | ||
Without a shadow of doubt | 59 | 76 | 65 | 54 | 65 | 57 |
More likely yes | 33 | 20 | 29 | 42 | 28 | 33 |
More likely no | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
No doubt that it won´t | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Hard to say | 7 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 7 |
What consequences do you think, for Sochi and for Russia as a whole will conducting Winter Olympic Games 2014 have? | ||||||
| Total respondents | Type of Settlement | ||||
Moscow and St. Petersburg | More than 500 thousand inhabitants
| 100-500 thousand inhabitants | Less than 100 thousand inhabitants | Villages | ||
Olympic games will foster the development of gymnastics and sport | 48 | 69 | 51 | 46 | 47 | 49 |
Increase the prestige of Russia and its political standing in the world politics | 52 | 63 | 55 | 46 | 51 | 53 |
The rise of national self-consciousness of Russians | 26 | 27 | 31 | 29 | 22 | 23 |
Conducting Olympic Games will require significant financial means | 27 | 22 | 32 | 23 | 23 | 24 |
Increase in prices on housing, real estate and ground | 24 | 8 | 17 | 21 | 24 | 23 |
Economical growth, new investments | 16 | 18 | 11 | 19 | 17 | 13 |
Sochi is a public resport with a unique ecosystem | 9 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 10 |
Development of infrastructure in Sochi, numerous building activities | 19 | 41 | 14 | 17 | 22 | 16 |
Hard to say | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 |