Americans are historically uninterested in watching the Olympics this year
Perhaps it's all the talk about the Zika virus or maybe it's all the hubbub over the U.S. presidential election, but not many Americans are planning on making the effort to watch the Olympics this year. In what marks a first in Gallup's 16 years of polling on the topic, Americans are almost "evenly split" over whether or not they'll tune in for the Olympics, Gallup reported.
Forty-eight percent of Americans said they're planning to tune in a "great deal" or a "fair amount," while 51 percent said they're going to tune in "not much" or "none at all." That's a steep drop-off from viewership for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, when 59 percent of people planned to tune in, compared to just 41 percent of uninterested viewers.
"The Olympic Games have been a rallying cry for nations since ancient times, and certainly since the modern Olympics resumed in 1896," Gallup said. "Yet with concerns about the Zika virus keeping many American athletes at home, on top of allegations of drug use among participants and recent reports of unsafe conditions in the Olympic Village, Americans seem to have lost interest."
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.
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
-
Second Amendment enthusiast Donald Trump has little new to say on guns
The Explainer Trump opposes a ban on assault weapons and strengthening background checks, but supports teachers carrying weapons in school
By David Faris Published
-
When does it make sense to refinance your student loans?
The Explainer Refinancing involves moving your existing student loans into one new loan, which can streamline how many different payments you are juggling each month.
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Why has the Taliban banned pictures of living things?
Under The Radar 'Virtue' ministry says banned images are contrary to sharia law
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Caitlin Clark the No. 1 pick in bullish WNBA Draft
Speed Read As expected, she went to the Indiana Fever
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
South Carolina ends perfect season with NCAA title
Speed Read The women's basketball team won a victory over superstar Caitlin Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes
By Rafi Schwartz, 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