Canadians unexcited about Olympics, poll finds
Concerns about Zika virus, pollution and corruption mean fewer plan to pay attention
Canadians feel less than enthusiastic about the Rio Olympic Games, an Angus Reid survey suggests.
They are split on whether the Games are a worthwhile investment for the host country, and eight in 10 say the event is more about corporate sponsorships and commercialism than athletic competition.
Highlights of the survey, which was conducted from July 26 to 29:
- Just 13 per cent of Canadians say they're "very interested" in these Olympics, and interest has dropped compared to previous editions of the Games.
- Among the likely reasons for a decline in interest, 81 per cent of Canadians say the Games are now more about corporate sponsors and commercialism than the athletes and competitions.
- A majority of Canadians say they would want a friend or family member who is an athlete to "stay home" due to the risk of Zika virus (55 per cent) or concerns over the water quality for open-water events (69 per cent).
- Just over half say they'll be paying attention (53 per cent), compared to 60 per cent who say they followed the Summer Games in London in 2012 and Beijing in 2008.
We're better in the winter
One reason for decreasing interest might be that Team Canada is much more competitive at Winter Games than summer ones, Angus Reid said. Canada finished first in the medal count in Vancouver's Winter Olympics in 2010 and third at Sochi in 2014, but 35th in the 2012 Summer Games.
If the Rio Games aren't marred by the Zika virus or water pollution, they may be harmed in the public consciousness by the apparent need of some national teams to be swifter, higher and stronger at all costs, Angus Reid said.
A major doping scandal led the World Anti-Doping Agency to call for a total ban on Russian athletes competing in the 2016 Games. But the International Olympic Committee decided not to issue one, instead opting to allow each sport's international federation to determine whether to ban Russian athletes, or which individuals to ban.
Asked whether they favoured a total ban on Russian athletes at Rio, 74 per cent of Canadians say they do not, preferring to ban only those who have been caught doping.
The Angus Reid Institute conducted the online survey among a representative randomized sample of 1,516 Canadian adults who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points 19 times out of 20.