Poll affirms BC residents happy with Winter Olympics

Majority would prefer to avoid Summer Olympics

By Angela Espinoza, News Editor

While many BC residents have voiced appreciation for Vancouver’s role in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, there’s been public disdain regarding Vancouver potentially hosting the Olympic Summer Games.

Insights West reportedly ran a poll for CTV that asked whether BC residents would approve of the city hosting another Olympic event. CTV reported that 75 to 80 per cent of votes stated the Winter Games had a positive effect on Vancouver, BC, and Canada respectively.

Mario Canseco, vice president of public affairs for Insights West, told CTV, “It’s very hard to get more than seven out of 10 BC residents to say they’re happy with something.

“This is one of those occasions when it worked.”

However, 53 per cent voted “probably should not” or “definitely should not” when addressed with hosting the Summer Games.

Only 37 per cent of voters throughout BC selected “definitely should” or “probably should” with regard to hosting the Summer Olympics.

Regardless of the poll’s results, it’s unconfirmed if Vancouver will opt to host any Olympic Summer Games in the near future. Although the Winter Games were five years ago, the Olympic Cauldron down at Coal Harbour keeps the events in recent memory.