Doping reduces interest in Olympics, survey

Unpublished
LONDON - Doping scandals have reduced public interest in the Olympics, according to a poll for the BBC World Service. A majority of 57%, from 19,000 people surveyed across 19 countries, said doping has had "a lot" or "some" negative effect on the level of attention they will pay the Games. Respondents from Germany and the host nation, Brazil, were least affected. An average of 62% of citizens also said their country's performance has "a lot" or "some" impact on national pride. Olympic success had the greatest impact on national pride among respondents in emerging economies such as Indonesia, Kenya, Russia, Peru and India. National pride in Brazil, Germany, the US and France appeared least affected by Olympic success. Doug Miller, chairman of GlobeScan, the firm that carried out the survey, said the poll results "also underscores the important role the World Anti-Doping Agency [Wada] plays in protecting the Olympic franchise."(FA)

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