For Immediate Release

For Immediate Release: Friday, August 20, 2004

New Yorkers and the Olympics, Part I

New Yorkers Say Olympic Ideals Alive and Well

70% Say Games Accomplish Goal; “Worth the Security Costs and Concerns”

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Loudonville, NY - In this season of Olympic fervor, how do New Yorkers feel about the Olympics, in general? According to the latest statewide poll by the Siena (College) Research Institute (SRI), most say the Olympic ideal is alive and well:

70% say the Olympic games are accomplishing their purpose
68% say pursuing the Olympic ideal is worth the security costs and concerns
only 8% said we should do away with the Olympics
They are split on concerns about scandals involving past Olympics:

33% are concerned “a lot,” 13% “a little,” and 52% “not at all.”

Perhaps some of that good feeling is the reason why nearly two-thirds of New Yorkers (65%) favor New York City hosting the Olympic Games in 2012. Still, only 40% think New York City will be chosen as the host city. The other cities currently under consideration include London, Madrid, Moscow and Paris.

But if New York City wins the bid, to be announced sometime in the summer of 2005,

86% say it would have a favorable effect on the image of New York City

82% say it would have a favorable effect on the image of New York State

As for safety and security issues,

51% think hosting the Olympics would increase the chances of a terrorist attack in New York City
35% think the 9/11 attacks make it more likely that New York City will host the Games

As for the effects on New York City services,

Two-thirds (64%) think New York City can handle the increased demands on transportation during the Games.
2 to 1 (58%/29%), New Yorkers think hosting the games would have a favorable effect on New York City public services.

“It’s clear New Yorkers want the Olympic Games to come to New York City in 2012, despite all the security costs and concerns,” notes Dr. Douglas Lonnstrom, Siena College professor of finance and statistics and SRI Director. “While upstaters are less enthusiastic, they still favor the games coming by a margin greater than 2 to l.”

Coming: New Yorkers and the Olympics, Part II: The Olympics and the Economy

This SRI survey was conducted August 16-19 2004 by random telephone calls to 512 New York State residents over the age of 18. It has an overall margin of error of + 4.3 percentage points. For more information or comments, please contact Dr. Douglas Lonnstrom, SRI Director, at 518-783-2362 (office) or 518-456-6073 (home). Survey Cross-tabulations and frequencies can be found at: www.siena.edu/sri, under “surveys.”