Russians believe that the Russian national team will win the Sochi Olympic Games. Gold medals are expected to be won by the figure skaters.
MOSCOW, February 5, 2014. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning how many Russians are going to follow the Winter Olympics in Sochi; which sport events they are going to watch; what country will have the most medals won; and what sports will bring gold to the Russian team.
Most of Russians are planning to watch the Sochi Winter Olympics (73%). Every fourth Russian (26%) will watch the competitions regularly; 37% of respondents will watch only those sport events they are interested in; other 10% will watch those competitions where Russian athletes can win medals. Those who will support the national team sitting in front of the TV are mainly men (75%), Russians aged 18-24 (75%), and metropolitan residents (76%).
The interest of Russians in the Olympic Games has considerably increased over a year: whereas a year ago the share of respondents who were not going to watch the competitions was 22% (February 2013), now this share makes up only 1% (February 2014). The number of supporters has also grown in any sport. The most anticipated sports are figure skating (46%), biathlon (41%) and hockey (36%). Every fourth Russian will follow ski competitions (25%). Now Russians are more interested in luge, bobsleigh (9%), speed skating (8%), ski jumping, curling (4%, for each), and freestyle competitions (3%) et cet.
Half of respondents (51%) believe that Russia will win the most medals. Those who believe in it more than others are women (54%), elderly respondents (58%), and residents of big cities (59%). Only few respodnents forecast that the most number of medals will be gained by China (8%), the U.S.A. (7%), and Germany (2%).
According to Russians, the athletes who can bring gold to Russia are figure skaters (51%). Every third Russian cites biathlonists (34%). More than one-quarter of Russians (28%) are confident that Russian hockey team will gain medals. Twenty-two percent of respondents report that gold medals will be won by skiers; good results will be achieved by skaters (7%), bobsledder and lugers (6%), curling players (3%), ski jumpers (2%), freestylers (2%), et cet.
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on February 1-2, 2014. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
Will you follow the Sochi Winter Olympic Games, or not? (close-ended question, one answer) | |
| Total respondents |
Yes, I will follow the live broadcast of every competition regularly | 26 |
Yes, but I will watch only those broadcasts where Russian athletes can win medals | 10 |
Yes, but I will watch only those sport event broadcasts I am interested in | 37 |
No, I will not follow the Winter Olympics | 24 |
I did not know that the Winter Games would take place | <1 |
Don`t know | 3 |
What sport events will you follow first? | |||
February 2013 | November 2013 | February 2014 | |
Figure skating | 28 | 30 | 46 |
Biathlon | 28 | 25 | 41 |
Hockey | 22 | 23 | 36 |
Skiing | 17 | 20 | 25 |
Luge, bobsleigh | 5 | 5 | 9 |
Speed skating | 1 | 2 | 8 |
Ski jumping | 3 | 2 | 4 |
Curling | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Freestyle | - | 1 | 3 |
Alpine skiing | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Snowboard | - | 1 | 2 |
Skeleton | - | - | 1 |
Slalom | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Short track | - | - | 1 |
I will not follow sports competitions | 22 | 18 | 1 |
I will watch all the competitions | 6 | 7 | 5 |
Don`t know | 7 | 8 | 5 |
In your opinion, what country will win the most medals? (open-ended question, any number of answers) | |
| Total respondents |
Russia | 51 |
China | 8 |
U.S.A. | 7 |
Germany | 2 |
Canada | 1 |
Norway | 1 |
Japan | 1 |
Other countries | 2 |
Don`t know | 27 |
In your opinion, in what sport competitions does Russia have chances to win gold medals at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games? (open-ended question, any number of answers) | |
| Total respondents |
Figure skating | 51 |
Biathlon | 34 |
Hockey | 28 |
Skiing, cross country skiing | 22 |
Speed skating | 7 |
Bobsleigh, luge | 6 |
Curling | 3 |
Ski jumping | 2 |
Freestyle | 2 |
Skeleton | 1 |
Snowboard | 1 |
Short track | 1 |
All | 1 |
None | 1 |
Other | 1 |
Don`t know | 18 |
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!