The second part of the YouGov Sports Study focuses on the British public's interest in the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, and their perceptions of their impact on society.
The study reveals a split in the British public's interest in the Olympic Games. In general, more people are interested in the Summer Olympic Games than in the Winter Olympics –53% vs 40% – with men across all age groups being notably more interested than women.
When it comes to the Summer Olympics, one in five Britons (20%) report being "very interested", with men showing slightly more interest than women (22% vs 17%). Conversely, one in ten (10%) are very interested in the Winter Olympics, with interest levels about equal between women (11%) and men (10%).
A quarter of Britons (25%) are not at all interested in the Summer Olympics, rising to a third (32%) for the Winter Olympics.
The situation is somewhat different when it comes to the Paralympic Games. Only 6% of Britons report being "very interested" in the Paralympics while 31% say they are "somewhat interested" in the event.
As for actual viewership, one in five Britons (19%) say they followed the Paralympics in Paris "very closely" or "somewhat closely." A further 32% say they didn’t follow them very closely, and nearly half (48%) admit they haven't followed them at all.
Fieldwork for this survey was conducted from 25-31 July 2024, stretching from slightly before to the very opening stages of the Olympic Games in Paris. At that time, four in ten Britons (40%) reported that they intended to follow the summer Games. While 11% said they were planning on watching “very closely,” 29% said they would follow “somewhat closely.” However, a quarter (26%) said they were not going to watch the Olympics at all.
How much do Britons care about the medal count from the Olympics?
In the Summer Olympics in Paris, Britain won 65 medals, of which 14 were gold, 22 silver and 29 bronze. In the total number of medals won, Britain was third, behind the US and China, coming ahead of the hosts France by just one medal.
About half of Britons (53%) say it is important for them that Britain performs well in the Olympics, including 16% who consider it “very important.” Those aged 60 and older are most keen on Britain doing well in the Olympics: 62% say it is important, compared to 44-53% among other age groups.
Over four in ten (44%) don’t consider Britain’s Olympic performance important.
Among Britons who said they intended to watch the Paris Olympics closely, a third (33%) felt it was “very” important that Britain did well.
Do the Olympics bring people closer together?
The original motto of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at its founding in 1894 was “Citius, Altius, Fortius” – three Latin words that translate to "Faster, Higher, Stronger". In 2021, the IOC updated the motto to include the word “Together,” emphasizing the unifying power of sport and the importance of solidarity.
The YouGov Sports Study asked the public how much they believe the Olympic Games bring people together. A quarter of the public (24%) say the Games bring people together “both while they are happening and afterward.” A greater number (56%) think they bring people together “while they are happening, but not afterward.”
However, 11% don’t think the Olympic Games are successful in bringing people together, either during or after the event. This scepticism is more prevalent among Britons over 40 (12-14%) compared to younger generations (6-8%).
Should the Olympics and Paralympics take place at the same time?
The first Paralympic Games took place in Rome, Italy, in 1960, featuring 400 athletes from 23 countries.
Britons are split on whether the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games should take place at the same time or different times: 42% think both events should take place at different times while 38% think they should happen simultaneously. This view is consistent across all age and gender groups.
See the full results here:
Which sports should/not be in the Olympics (during Paris 2024)
Which sports should/not be in the Olympics (post Paris 2024)
Photo: Getty
