Residents See The Benefit In Hosting The Olympics
Residents of cities due to host, or potentially bidding to host, the Olympic Games are in favour of the event. New research by MORI for SportAccord shows a majority of the people whose lives will be affected the most support holding the biggest international sporting event in their hometown.
Residents of cities due to host, or potentially bidding to host, the Olympic Games are in favour of the event. New research by MORI for SportAccord shows a majority of the people whose lives will be affected the most support holding the biggest international sporting event in their hometown.
Seven in 10 Londoners (70%) believe there would be long-term social benefits to hosting the 2012 Olympic Games [1]. Furthermore the research also shows that public opinion in China for the 2008 Beijing Olympics is extremely positive -- 86% of those polled agree the event would bring social benefits to the Beijing area [2].
MORI's research reveals that around three in five (56%) residents of the North West of England feel the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester helped improve the quality of life in the area [3]. The positive effects on the local economy, transport facilities, infrastructure and an increased investment in the region are the specific benefits identified in the research [4].
Peter Hasler, Head of Sport Research at MORI, will be presenting the research at SportAccord, the International Sports Convention taking place from 12-16 May. He says: "The research is indicative of just how positive opinion is in the UK and China for hosting the Olympics. The results from the Manchester area prove that high profile international events can leave a long lasting and sustainable legacy that benefits the area and its people."
Technical details
1, 3 & 4. MORI conducted the research by face-to-face interview in-home among 1,885 people between 3-7 April 2003. There were 191 sampling points throughout Great Britain. Data have been weighted to reflect the national profile.
4. MORI conducted the research by face-to-face interview in-home among 453 people in March 2003. People were interviewed in four cities in China -- Beijing (28% of the sample), Shanghai (31%), Guangzhou (25%) and Chengdu (16%).
Topline Results
Q1. How frequently, if at all, do you... a) watch sport, either on television or live at matches/events? b) participate in a sport or health and fitness activity?
| a) | b) | |
|---|---|---|
| % | % | |
| Everyday | 8 | 4 |
| At least 4 or 5 times a week | 8 | 5 |
| At least 2 or 3 times a week | 17 | 14 |
| About once a week | 17 | 13 |
| At least once every 2 weeks | 5 | 2 |
| At least once a month | 7 | 3 |
| At least once every 2 months | 3 | 1 |
| Less often | 15 | 12 |
| Never | 19 | 44 |
| Don't know | * | 1 |
Q2. Which of the following statements, if any, to you agree with?
| All | Men | Women | |
|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | |
| My mood is effected by whether a sports team I support wins or loses | 17 | 26 | 8 |
| I have no interest in sport | 9 | 7 | 12 |
| There is not enough coverage of sport on television and in the newspapers | 6 | 10 | 2 |
| When I meet my friends we almost always talk about sport | 16 | 29 | 5 |
| There is too much coverage of sport on television and in the newspapers | 15 | 14 | 17 |
| None | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Q3. To what extent, if at all, do you think the 2002 Commonwealth Games have helped improve the quality of life for people living in Greater Manchester?
| % | |
|---|---|
| A great deal | 17 |
| A fair amount | 40 |
| Not a lot | 25 |
| Not at all | 6 |
| Don't know | 13 |
Q4. Why do you say that?
Base: All Who Said A Great Deal/Fair Amount (108)
| % | |
|---|---|
| Positive | |
| Helped develop the local/regional economy | 23 |
| Improve public facilities and infrastructure | 19 |
| Improve transport facilities (e.g. road, rail, river etc.) | 10 |
| Employment opportunities | 5 |
| Generally improve people's lives | 8 |
| Increased investment in the area | 16 |
| Increased tourist trade | 5 |
| Improved sports facilities | 6 |
| Increased levels of physical activity among the public | - |
| Negative | |
| Traffic problems | 1 |
| Money should be spent elsewhere | - |
| Short term -- not long term benefit | 1 |
| Others | 6 |
| Don't know | - |
Q5. Why do you say that?
Base: All Who Said A Not A Lot / Not At All (57)
| % | |
|---|---|
| Positive | |
| Helped develop the local/regional economy | - |
| Improve public facilities and infrastructure | - |
| Improve transport facilities (e.g. road, rail, river etc.) | - |
| Employment opportunities | 2 |
| Generally improve people's lives | - |
| Increased investment in the area | - |
| Increased tourist trade | - |
| Improved sports facilities | 8 |
| Increased levels of physical activity among the public | - |
| Negative | |
| Traffic problems | 2 |
| Money should be spent elsewhere | 10 |
| Short term -- not long term benefit | 41 |
| Others | 19 |
| Don't know | 26 |
Q6. London will potentially bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games. If the Games were to come to London, to what extent do you agree or disagree that hosting the Games would have long-term social benefits to the people of London and the surrounding area?
| ALL | London | |
|---|---|---|
| Base | (1,885) | (194) |
| % | % | |
| Strongly agree | 20 | 31 |
| Tend to agree | 40 | 39 |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 17 | 17 |
| Tend to disagree | 12 | 9 |
| Strongly disagree | 5 | 4 |
| Don't know | 6 | 1 |
Q7. what extent do you agree or disagree that investment in sport in your community will have the following impacts on your local community?
| Strongly agree | Tend to agree | Neither / nor | Tend to disagree | Strongly disagree | Don't know | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | % | % | % | |
| Reduce crime | 14 | 47 | 13 | 16 | 5 | 4 |
| Make your community a safer place | 11 | 41 | 19 | 20 | 5 | 4 |
| Reduce drug related problems | 10 | 37 | 19 | 22 | 7 | 5 |
| Improve people's health | 27 | 55 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| Increase jobs for local people | 15 | 56 | 16 | 8 | 1 | 4 |
| Improve the environment | 9 | 34 | 29 | 20 | 3 | 5 |
| Make the are a better place to live | 14 | 47 | 20 | 13 | 2 | 4 |
