Six in 10 adults in the U.S. (61%) plan to watch this year’s Olympics (61%), according to a new poll from Axios and SurveyMonkey, with 70% planning to watch on TV, 28% planning to watch via a streaming provider, 19% planning to watch on their smartphone, and 24% planning to watch recorded clips online.
Most people who plan to watch (69%) say they would still watch an Olympic event even if they know the outcome already. Half of the country (50%) is about as enthusiastic for this year's Olympics in Tokyo as they were for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro; 33% say they are less enthusiastic and 13% say they are more enthusiastic this year.
Almost half of Americans cannot name a USA athlete competing in the Olympics this year (44%). 65% of Black Americans can name at least one athlete competing in the Olympics this year compared to 51% of White Americans, 49% of Hispanics, and 50% of other Americans. When asked to write in the athlete they are most excited to see, Simone Biles wins by a mile.
The American public is split on whether athletes should use the heightened profile of the Olympics to advocate for political or social justice issues: 47% approve and 49% disapprove.
- 72% of Black Americans, 59% of Hispanics, 49% of Americans of another race, and 40% of whites approve of athletes using their public platform to advocate for political or social issues
- 50% of women vs. 44% of men approve
- 64% of 18-34 year-olds, 43% of 35-64 year-olds, and 35% of those 65+ approve
- 20% of Republicans, 52% of independents, and 77% of Democrats approve
By a relatively slim margin (52% to 44%), most Americans disapprove of the decision to disqualify Sha’carri Richardson from participating in this year’s Olympic Games.
- Republicans are the only group to approve of the decision to suspend Richardson (58% approve, 42% disapprove; Democrats overwhelmingly disapprove (34% approve, 65% disapprove)
- By race: 54% of whites, 54% of Blacks, 47% of Hispanics, and 40% of Americans of another race disapprove of the decision to disqualify Richardson
Read more about our polling methodology here.
As you may know, Sha'carri Richardson took first place in the women’s 100 meter race at the Olympic trials, but then lost her spot on the USA Track & Field team after testing positive for marijuana. Do you approve or disapprove of the decision to disqualify her?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 5,169 2,585 2,484 100 NET approve 44%46%42%44%Strongly approve 25%27%24%26%Somewhat approve 19%19%18%18%NET disapprove 52%51%53%55%Somewhat disapprove 20%18%20%30%Strongly disapprove 32%33%32%26%No answer 4%3%5%1%Question wording: As you may know, Sha'carri Richardson took first place in the women’s 100 meter race at the Olympic trials, but then lost her spot on the USA Track & Field team after testing positive for marijuana. Do you approve or disapprove of the decision to disqualify her?Survey dates: –Do you plan to watch any events from the upcoming Summer Olympics?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 5,169 2,585 2,484 100 Yes 61%63%61%48%No 35%34%35%52%No answer 4%3%5%1%Question wording: Do you plan to watch any events from the upcoming Summer Olympics?Survey dates: –Are you more enthusiastic, less enthusiastic, or about as enthusiastic as this year’s Olympic Games compared with the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 5,169 2,585 2,484 100 More enthusiastic 13%14%12%10%Less enthusiastic 33%33%32%31%About as enthusiastic 50%49%51%56%No answer 5%3%6%4%Question wording: Are you more enthusiastic, less enthusiastic, or about as enthusiastic as this year’s Olympic Games compared with the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil?Survey dates: –How many USA athletes could you name who are competing in the Olympics this year?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 5,169 2,585 2,484 100 None 44%43%44%46%1 11%10%13%16%2 to 4 27%26%28%21%5 to 9 9%11%7%6%10 or more 5%8%3%11%No answer 4%3%5%1%Question wording: How many USA athletes could you name who are competing in the Olympics this year?Survey dates: –Surfing and skateboarding are debuting as Olympic sports this year. Do you think surfing and skateboarding belong as Olympic sports?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 5,169 2,585 2,484 100 Yes, surfing belongs 9%10%9%13%Yes, skateboarding belongs 6%6%5%7%Yes, they both belong 57%52%62%59%No, they don’t belong 22%28%17%19%No answer 5%4%6%1%Question wording: Surfing and skateboarding are debuting as Olympic sports this year. Do you think surfing and skateboarding belong as Olympic sports?Survey dates: –How much of this year’s Olympics do you plan to watch?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,391 1,727 1,614 50 A lot 23%22%23%0%Some 56%55%57%0%A little 21%22%19%0%No answer 1%1%0%0%Question wording: How much of this year’s Olympics do you plan to watch?Survey dates: –How do you plan to watch this year’s Olympics? (Select all that apply)
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,391 1,727 1,614 50 Live or recorded on television 70%70%71%0%Live or recorded on streaming provider 28%30%26%0%Live or streamed on smartphone or handheld device 19%22%16%0%Recorded clips online (e.g. news outlets, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook) 24%25%22%0%Other (please specify) 1%1%1%0%No answer 1%1%1%0%Question wording: How do you plan to watch this year’s Olympics? (Select all that apply)Survey dates: –How likely are you to watch an Olympic event if you already know the outcome?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,391 1,727 1,614 50 NET likely 69%66%71%0%Very likely 22%21%23%0%Somewhat likely 47%45%48%0%NET unlikely 31%33%27%0%Somewhat unlikely 18%19%17%0%Very unlikely 12%14%10%0%No answer 1%0%1%0%Question wording: How likely are you to watch an Olympic event if you already know the outcome?Survey dates: –There are some new Olympic events this year. Which, if any, of them are you looking forward to watching?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,391 1,727 1,614 50 None of the above 20%20%21%0%Skateboarding 30%28%32%0%Surfing 34%28%39%0%Karate 24%27%20%0%Sport climbing 20%21%18%0%Baseball 27%35%19%0%Softball 19%22%17%0%No answer 4%3%6%0%Question wording: There are some new Olympic events this year. Which, if any, of them are you looking forward to watching?Survey dates: –
