What's fueling the Olympics apathy?
Are the 2022 Winter Olympics perhaps the least hyped Olympics ... ever? And if so, why?
Well, according to a new Axios-Momentive poll, Americans' concerns about human rights abuses in China, Chinese government surveillance, "international competitiveness," and COVID-19 are to blame for bottomed-out enthusiasm toward this year's Games, Axios writes.
Forty-seven percent of respondents said they're less excited about the Beijing Olympics than they were about those hosted in South Korea in 2018, and 70 percent said they disapprove of allowing China to host; that said, half of respondents noted they'll tune in regardless, Axios reports.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What's more, six in ten of those surveyed couldn't name a single athlete competing — of those who were mentioned, snowboarder Shaun White got the most love at 6 percent. Another 1 percent of respondents brought up gymnast Simone Biles ... who competes only in the Summer Games.
Though 73 percent of respondents said they approve of the U.S. diplomatic boycott, 74 percent believe it won't make a difference in how the Chinese government operates. A majority (57 percent) are also concerned that China's mandatory health and travel monitoring app is actually being used for surveillance reasons rather than virus control.
Said Laura Wronski of Momentive: "People aren't happy that the Olympics are in China, but it's still the Olympics."
The Axios-Momentive poll surveyed 2,590 adults from Jan. 28-31. Results have a margin of error of 2 percentage points. See more results.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
'The House under GOP rule has become a hostile workplace'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
The Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal is about more than bad bets
In The Spotlight The firestorm surrounding one of baseball's biggest stars threatens to upend a generational legacy and professional sports at large
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Feds raid Diddy homes in alleged sex trafficking case
Speed Read Homeland Security raided the properties of hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Iowa's Caitlin Clark breaks NCAA scoring record
speed read College basketball star Caitlin Clark set the new record in Iowa's defeat of Ohio State
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Eight-year-old Brit Bodhana Sivanandan makes chess history
Speed Read Sivanandan has been described as a 'phenomenon' by chess masters
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Watch Simone Biles win her record 8th US gymnastics championship
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Spain beats England 1-0 to win its first Women's World Cup
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
US knocked out of Women's World Cup in stunning exit
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Katie Ledecky surpasses Michael Phelps for most world championship titles
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Marketa Vondrousova becomes first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Former Mets player receives annual $1.1M payout despite retiring in 2001
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published