AMERICANS STILL BIG OLYMPIC FANSUSOC Survey Finds Strong Support for American Athletes, Sponsors and Games; Clear Call for Reform
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Despite weeks of negative publicity about the Olympic host city selection process, Americans by an overwhelming majority still hold the Games and American Olympic athletes in high esteem. According to a survey conducted last weekend by the United States Olympic Committee, 83 percent of those surveyed expressed positive to strongly positive feelings about the Olympics. Ninety percent recognized that the scandal has not involved Olympic athletes in anyway; 91 percent said their feelings for the athletes had not changed or were even more positive than when negative stories began.
Americans also remain strongly committed to the corporate sponsors who support the athletes and the Games. Seventy-three percent agreed that companies that support the Olympics deserve their business. Additionally, 74 percent of respondents said their feelings for Olympic sponsors had not changed based on recent stories, and 11 percent said they were actually more supportive of sponsors now.
Eighty-six percent said the stories they had read and heard had not changed their interest in watching the Olympic Games on television and six percent said their interest in watching has increased.
"Naturally, we have beenvery concerned that the daily doses of negative stories about Salt Lake City, Sydney, Australia, and Nagano, Japan, and International Olympic Committee members would erode Americans' support for their athletes and for the Games," said Bill Hybl, president of the U.S. Olympic Committee. "We're gratified that a strong majority have not lost sight of what matters most, the athletes and the Games themselves."
"Still, we recognize that Americans have sent a strong signal about the need for reform," Hybl said. "And it is clear that those reforms are forthcoming, at all levels."
Americans said the site selection process should be changed. Seventy-three percent agreed there should be significant changes in how Olympic host cities are selected.Eighty-three percent said there should be greater oversight of the organizations charged with planning the Games.
The survey of 1,000 adult Americans was conducted for the USOC by Wirthlin Worldwide, an independent strategic research firm. The interviews were conducted by telephone from Jan. 28 through Jan. 31, 1999. Sample error for a survey of this size at the 95 percent confidence interval is +/- three percent.
"Despite the crisis and the issues we hear about each day, the mission of the USOC remains the same, and that is to prepare American athletes for their Olympic dreams," Hybl said.
"Right now, hundreds of athletes are in residence at our Olympic Training Centers in hopes of representing the United States in Sydney and Salt Lake City, and all of our resources, which are derived from the support of our sponsors and the American public, remain committed to the athletes," Hybl added.
UNITED STATES OLYMPIC COMMITTEE SURVEY RESULTS:
A representative random survey of 1,000 adult Americans (18+ years) was conducted for the USOC by Wirthlin Worldwide, an independent strategic research firm. The interviews were conducted by telephone from Jan. 28 through Jan. 31, 1999. Sample error for a survey of this size at the 95 percent confidence interval is +/- three percent.
The questions and results follow: Number of respondents answering question Question Percentage of respondents
N = 1,000
Overall would you say your feelings about the Olympics are...
Very positive 38
Somewhat positive 45
Not very positive 8
Not at all positive 5
Don't know (Don't read) 4
N = 827
There are a number of different individuals or parties involved in organizing the Olympic Games. I'd like you to think about anything you have seen, read or heard recently about the organizing process for the Olympics and those who are involved in that process. For the American Olympic athletes, tell me if your impressions over the past several weeks have:
Become more positive 19
Become more negative 3
Stayed the same 72
Don't know (Don't read) 6
I'M GOING TO READ YOU A SERIES OF STATEMENTS. BASED ON WHAT YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE OLYMPICS, PLEASE TELL ME FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS IF YOU: N = 1,000
There should be significant changes in the selection process for the city that hosts the Olympic Games
Strongly agree 42
Agree somewhat 31
Disagree somewhat 11
Strongly disagree 4
Don't know (Don't read) 11
N = 702
The news stories you have heard have not involved the Olympic athletes themselves in any way
Strongly agree 74
Agree somewhat 16
Disagree somewhat 3
Strongly disagree 3
Don't know (Don't read) 3
N = 1,000
There should be greater oversight of the organizations involved in planning the Olympic Games
Strongly agree 52
Agree somewhat 31
Disagree somewhat 7
Strongly disagree 2
Don't know (Don't read) 7
N = 1,000
Companies that support the Olympics deserve your business
Strongly agree 32
Agree somewhat 41
Disagree somewhat 14
Strongly disagree 7
Don't know (Don't read) 6
N = 1,000
Again, based on what you know right now, would you say your interest in watching the Olympic Games has:
Increased 6
Decreased 7
Stayed the same 86
Don't know (Don't read) 1 N = 1,000
As you may be aware, the Olympic Games are financed in large part by corporate sponsorship. Based on what you know right now, would you say your feelings about Olympic sponsors are:
More supportive 11
Less supportive 12
No different 74
Don't know (Don't read) 3
This release is also available on the USOC's public web site (www.olympic-usa.org)