Essential Report
Interest in Tokyo Olympics
Q. [Aug’21] How much interest are you taking in the Olympic Games being held in Tokyo?
Q. [Aug’16] How much interest are you taking in the Olympic Games being held in Rio?
Q. [Aug’12] How much interest are you taking in the Olympic Games being held in London?
| 2021 | 2016 | 2012 | |
| A lot of interest | 23% | 19% | 22% |
| Some interest | 30% | 33% | 36% |
| A little interest | 24% | 30% | 27% |
| No interest | 22% | 17% | 14% |
| Unsure | 2% | 1% | 1% |
| TOTAL: A lot of interest + Some interest | 53% | 52% | 58% |
| TOTAL: A little interest + No interest | 46% | 48% | 41% |
| Base (n) | 1,098 | 1,015 | 1,018 |
- Just over half of people are taking an interest in the Olympics (53%), at the Rio games, 52% were interested.
- 22% say they have no interest in the Games this year, more than in 2012 (14%).
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| A lot of interest | 23% | 27% | 19% | 22% | 21% | 25% | 20% | 31% | 25% | 12% | ||
| Some interest | 30% | 30% | 30% | 31% | 32% | 28% | 33% | 35% | 25% | 19% | ||
| A little interest | 24% | 23% | 25% | 20% | 22% | 28% | 25% | 22% | 26% | 24% | ||
| No interest | 22% | 19% | 25% | 23% | 24% | 19% | 20% | 11% | 25% | 43% | ||
| Unsure | 2% | 2% | 2% | 4% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 1% | 0% | 2% | ||
| TOTAL: A lot of interest + Some interest | 53% | 57% | 49% | 53% | 53% | 53% | 53% | 66% | 49% | 31% | ||
| TOTAL: A little interest + No interest | 46% | 41% | 49% | 43% | 46% | 47% | 45% | 33% | 51% | 67% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,098 | 537 | 561 | 341 | 372 | 385 | 371 | 402 | 90 | 128 | ||
- Interest in the 2021 Tokyo Games is highest among men (57%) and Coalition voters (66%).
Importance of Australia winning gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics
Q. [Aug’21] How important is it that Australia wins gold medals at the 2021 Olympics being held in Tokyo?
Q. [Aug’16] How important is it that Australia wins gold medals at the 2016 Olympics being held in Rio?
Q. [Aug’12] How important is it that Australia wins gold medals at the 2012 Olympics being held in London?
| 2021 | 2016 | 2012 | |
| Very important | 18% | 15% | 12% |
| Quite important | 35% | 36% | 32% |
| Not so important | 24% | 30% | 36% |
| Not at all important | 17% | 13% | 17% |
| Unsure | 6% | 6% | 3% |
| TOTAL: Important | 53% | 51% | 44% |
| TOTAL: Not important | 41% | 43% | 54% |
| Base (n) | 1,098 | 1,015 | 1,018 |
- 53% say it is important that Australia wins gold medals at the Olympics. More people consider this important than at the 2012 London Olympics (44%).
| Total | Interest in the Olympics | ||||
| A lot of interest | Some interest | A little interest | No interest | ||
| Very important | 18% | 42% | 18% | 9% | 5% |
| Quite important | 35% | 39% | 51% | 32% | 13% |
| Not so important | 24% | 14% | 22% | 42% | 20% |
| Not at all important | 17% | 4% | 7% | 11% | 52% |
| Unsure | 6% | 0% | 3% | 6% | 10% |
| TOTAL: Important | 53% | 81% | 69% | 41% | 18% |
| TOTAL: Not important | 41% | 19% | 29% | 53% | 72% |
| Base (n) | 1,098 | 250 | 323 | 262 | 242 |
- Winning gold medals is most important for those taking a lot of interest in the games (81%).
- Just 18% of those who have no interest in the games say it is important to win gold medals.
Views towards Tokyo Olympics
Q. The Tokyo Olympic Games were originally scheduled to be held in 2020, but were postponed by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While the Games have started, Covid-19 cases in Japan continue to increase.
Which of the following is closer to your view?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| It’s fine that the Tokyo Olympics went ahead as planned this year | 28% | 33% | 23% | 27% | 26% | 29% | 26% | 32% | 26% | 29% | ||
| The Tokyo Olympics should have been further postponed until the Covid-19 outbreak in Japan is under control | 33% | 32% | 33% | 40% | 34% | 25% | 37% | 32% | 37% | 25% | ||
| The Tokyo Olympics should have been cancelled altogether | 28% | 26% | 30% | 19% | 30% | 35% | 27% | 26% | 26% | 33% | ||
| Unsure | 11% | 9% | 14% | 14% | 10% | 11% | 10% | 10% | 11% | 12% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,098 | 537 | 561 | 341 | 372 | 385 | 371 | 402 | 90 | 128 | ||
- While 28% of people are in favour of the games going ahead as planned, a third (33%) think there should have been a further postponement and 28% think the Tokyo Olympics should have been cancelled altogether.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
- Importance of Australia’s international reputation
- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
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