Four-in-five respondents believe the games are being staged for the benefit of politicians and the elites.
Residents of the Winter Olympics host city are concerned about cost overruns and feel that the event is being staged for the benefit of politicians and the elites, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.
The online survey of a representative sample of 493 adult Canadians who reside in Metro Vancouver and the Sea-to-Sky corridor, including Whistler, also finds that people are particularly interested in enjoying the free concerts and nightly entertainment and visiting Olympic “houses” and pavilions.
Engagement
Two-thirds of respondents in Metro Vancouver and the Sea-to-Sky corridor, including Whistler, will be following the Vancouver Winter Olympics “very closely” (37%) or “moderately closely” (31%).
Overall, 23 per cent of respondents will attend Olympic sporting events, while 23 per cent will go to Cultural Olympiad events. In addition, 45 per cent plan to enjoy at least one of the free concerts and nightly entertainment events, 11 per cent will attend Olympic victory ceremonies, and 44 per cent will visit Olympic “houses” and pavilions set up by participating countries and sponsors.
Feelings
Overall, respondents voice overwhelmingly positive feelings when assessing the Canadian athletes who will take part in the Vancouver Winter Olympics: Proud to be Canadian (73%), Enthusiasm (60%), Joy (39%) and Trust (19%) garner the highest proportion of mentions.
The views are more nuanced when discussing the event itself: Proud to be Canadian (55%), Enthusiasm (45%), Joy (29%) and Indifference (29%) are the most mentioned emotions.
The perceptions are not as positive when respondents rate the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC): Disgust (37%), Indifference (32%), Anger (30%) and Shame (21%) are the words cited most often.
Politics
The municipal government headed by Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson gets praise for its work in promoting the Olympics, with 59 per cent of respondents claiming to be satisfied with its actions. Satisfaction with the provincial government headed by British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell is lower (47%). In addition, 35 per cent are satisfied with the actions of the federal government headed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Respondents are more likely to refer to the Vancouver Winter Olympics as an event that is being staged for the benefit of politicians (84%), the elites (82%), and athletes and their families (79%). Fewer respondents think the Games are being staged for the benefit of sports fans (67%), children (34%) or people like them (26%).
Legacy of Games
Overall, about two-thirds of respondents believe that the Vancouver Winter Olympics will have a mostly positive impact on the country (66%) , the Province of British Columbia (64%) , and the City of Vancouver (65%).
A large proportion of respondents (86%) believe the Games will succeed in making Vancouver and BC more attractive destinations for tourists. The forecast is not as positive for two other goals: encouraging further economic development (56%) and promoting long-term job creation (39%).
Despite recent assurances that the Games will break even, most respondents in Metro Vancouver and the Sea-to-Sky corridor, including Whistler, (63%) foresee a considerable deficit at the end of the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
CONTACT:
Hamish Marshall, Research Director, Public Affairs
+604 647 1987
hamish.marshall@angus-reid.com
The deficit of the Olympics will be huge. I can’t see a remote chance of breaking even. However, Harper did offer Campbell $1.6 billion in funding if he forced the HST through. So, Campbell would have an off set if he uses those funds to pay down the Olympic deficit. Tourism may benefit Vancouver, but not the rest of the province. BC citizens expect Campbell to enforce more taxes and raise the HST another 1%. The excuse will probably be that would bring BC’s HST level up to the same as Ontario’s. Campbell could also sell more of BC’s natural resources and assets, that’s if there are any left to sell. He also may sell more of our mills to China. The only thing we do know is pay the price for the Olympics. However, the HST will bring on red tent cities and towns.