Almost 80% of people of Kazakhstan want Almaty to host 2022 Winter Olympics - poll
ALMATY. July 21 (Interfax) - A majority of the people of Kazakhstan are not against the 2022 Winter Olympics being held in Almaty, according to a public opinion poll conducted by the Public Opinion Express Monitoring Bureau of the international journalism center MediaNet.
"Seventy-three percent of the people of Kazakhstan know that Almaty is an official candidate for hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics. The remaining 27% have never heard about that," MediaNet said in a report released on Monday.
Seventy-nine percent of the respondents generally favor the idea of holding the Olympics in Almaty, the report says.
In the meantime, 10% spoke categorically against that and 11% were undecided.
Among the positive aspects of holding the Olympics in Almaty, 34% of the respondents mentioned an increase of the country's prestige and 16% said it would promote the development of sports in Kazakhstan.
Eight percent of the respondents said holding the Olympics in Almaty would promote a healthy lifestyle and another 8% said it would draw foreign investors to Almaty.
At the same time, 13% of the respondents believe holding the Olympics in Almaty would promote the development of the city, improve its infrastructure, and create new jobs. Four percent of the respondents believe it would increase the activity of young people and promote the development of the volunteer movement in Kazakhstan.
The poll surveyed 1,600 people in Astana, Almaty and all of Kazakhstan's 14 regional centers. Sixty-seven percent of the respondents are women and 33% are men. All respondents are older than 16. The poll was conducted by phone and via the Internet.