Most Adults Plan on Tuning in to Olympic Games, Think U.S. Needs to Win Most Medals

Monday, July 28, 2008

Sixty-one percent (61%) of adults say they are likely to watch a large portion of the Summer Olympics on television in August, but 37% say they probably won’t tune in, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national survey.

Just over half of adults (53%) also think it is important for the United States to bring home the most medals, with 19% who say it is Very Important. Forty-one percent (41%), however, do not think winning the most medals is essential for America.

Adults over 40 are slightly more likely to follow the games than those younger than them. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of adults in their forties and 64% over age 50 say they will most likely tune in. Fifty-nine percent (59%) between the ages of 18-29 say they will most likely watch, while 52% of those in their thirties say the same.

The plurality of adults (45%) is not sure if the United States will win the most gold medals in the upcoming games. Just over a third (34%) thinks the U.S. will win the most gold medals, while 21% do not think that will happen. There’s even a gender divide on this question: While 41% of men think America will take home the most golds, only 28% of women agree.

While 68% of men under the age of 40 believe it is important for the U.S. to win the most medals, just 50% of women agree. Among those 40 and older, 62% of men and 51% of women think it is important for America to be the biggest winner.

Most adults (88%) correctly identified China as the host country for the events.

China has been criticized for its human rights abuses, including its treatment of Tibetan citizens, causing several U.S. politicians and organizations to call for a boycott of the games. A survey conducted last week found that most adults (73%) do not see the Olympic Games as the proper venue for political protests. Most adults approve of President Bush’s decision to attend the opening ceremony. In a survey in April, 31% said the president should boycott Olympic ceremonies in China.

See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs are available to Premium Members only.

Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.

The Rasmussen Reports Election Edge™ Premium Service offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage available anywhere.

Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade.

This national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted by Rasmussen Reports July 25-26, 2008. The margin of sampling error for each survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

National Survey of 1,000 Adults
Conducted July 25-26, 2008

How likely are you to watch a large portion of the Summer Olympics coverage on television?
Very Likely	28%
Somewhat Likely	33%
Not Very Likely	27%
Not at all Likely	10%
Not Sure	2%

TOP STORIES