(ATR) Public opinion surveys done for the IOC apparently show sagging public support for two of three bids for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, sources familiar with the results tell Around the Rings.
The polling carried out in December shows that the bid from PyeongChang tops the field with 93 percent public support. That figure is three points higher than the 90 percent result in an IOC poll taken early in 2010.
Munich is said to score in the vicinity of 61 percent in the new IOC survey, a drop of 10 points from the early 2010 IOC poll.
Around the Rings is told that Annecy polled only 51 percent public support in the IOC's December poll. The figure is believed to be the lowest IOC polling result for a winter bid since those figures have been made known publicly. The IOC poll of Annecy support showed 74 percent public support, falling 23 points in 2010.
The IOC polling is due to be publicly released in early May, contained in the IOC Evaluation Commission report now being compiled in Lausanne.
The commission revealed the results of the IOC polling to each city during the group’s visits in the past three months. The bids have refused to confirm the numbers uncovered by ATR.
Earlier this month, Annecy 2018 CEO Charles Beigbeder declined to confirm the sagging number. But he did note that the IOC survey was taken during a difficult time for the bid when budget disputes led to the resignation of his predecessor, Edgar Grospiron.
A member of the Munich 2018 team tells ATR that the IOC polling took place in the wake of controversy over land permissions and opposition by the Federal Greens Party.
The Munich official says subsequent polling by the bid shows improving public support.
Beigbeder tells ATR he expects the numbers to climb for Annecy ahead of the July 6 IOC vote for 2018.
"There will be polling in the weeks ahead. Since the beginning of the year and the IOC visit, and strong government support, we feel a new dynamic that is very positive," said the Annecy chief.
The numbers are a factor applied to the latest edition of the Around the Rings Olympic Bid Power Index, due for release March 16.
The index indicates the relative strengths and weaknesses of the three bids.
Written by Ed Hula.
Últimas Noticias
Utah’s Olympic venues an integral part of the equation as Salt Lake City seeks a Winter Games encore
IOC president tells Olympic Movement “we will again have safe and secure Olympic Games” in Beijing
Boxing’s place in the Olympics remains in peril as IOC still unhappy with the state of AIBA’s reform efforts
IOC president details Olympic community efforts to get Afghans out of danger after Taliban return to power
North Korea suspended by IOC for failing to participate in Tokyo though its athletes could still take part in Beijing 2022
