In 2012 the interest of Russians towards the UEFA European Football Championship has cooled down compared to the Euro-2008. However, the number of fans of the Russian team has not decreased.

MOSCOW, June 7, 2012. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing whether Russians will be watching TV broadcasts of the Euro 2012, as well as what teams Russians will support.

Forty-two percent of Russians will be watching the 2012 European Championship. The same proportion of respondents (40%) was interested in the Euro-2004 eight years ago; the Euro-2008 was supposed to be watched by 48% of respondents. The share of respondents who are planning to watch broadcasts has decreased from 22% to 16%; they are those persons who are interested in football no matter what team is playing.  The number of Russian fans (those who only watch matches with the participation of the Russian team) has not changed over the recent four years (26%). The number of those who are not going to watch the European Championship has increased over the recent four years (52% this year versus 34% in 2008).

The overwhelming majority of fans (88%) will be watching the Euro-2012 broadcasts at home or at dacha. Eight percent of Russians will visit friends; the shares of those who will go to sport bars or restaurants are 8% (each). Only 3% would like to watch the championship on big screens in public places; the same share of respondents prefers radio.

More than three-quarters of Russians who are going to watch the Euro-2012 support Russian team (75%). In 2008 the share of such respondents was 72%. Other European teams participating in the Championship and favored by Russians are Spain team (9% will support it; 1% in 2008), Germany team  (8% versus 3% in 2008), Italy team (7% versus 4% in 2008) and Ukraine (7% versus 1% in 2008 ). Six percent of respondents are fans of England team, 3% support teams of France, Netherlands and Portugal (for each). Every tenth (11%) who is going to watch the Euro-2012 will not support any of the teams.  

The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted June 2-3, 2012. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

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!