On Sunday August 11th, the flame of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was extinguished, bringing to a close an event filled with unforgettable moments. These Games showcased the emergence of champions from diverse backgrounds across a broad spectrum of sports. Despite initial scepticism and criticism leading up to the event, the Paris Games ultimately sparked a wave of ‘Olympic mania,’ breaking historic records in terms of global visitors and television viewership.
As the track dust settles, it's time to step back and analyse the phenomena surrounding these Games. Did they succeed in capturing the hearts of the public?
Public Sentiment Before the GamesBefore the Games commenced, our research revealed a mixed level of enthusiasm among the public. In a pre-event survey, we found that:
- 42% of French respondents indicated they were ‘not looking forward to the Games at all.’
- In contrast, 46% of Italians and 57% of British respondents expressed varying degrees of anticipation, ranging from ‘rather’ to ‘very’ excited.
A Triumph of Public Engagement
Despite these early reservations, the Paris 2024 Olympics ultimately won over the public, achieving high levels of satisfaction across surveyed countries. A significant 77% of French respondents reported that they either liked or loved the Olympics. Similar approval ratings were observed in Italy (77%) and the United Kingdom (65%).
Popular Disciplines by CountryThe following rankings illustrate which Olympic disciplines captivated audiences the most in each country:
| France | Italy | United Kingdom | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position 1 | Swimming | 72% | Athletics | 64% | Athletics | 60% |
| Position 2 | Judo | 59% | Swimming | 62% | Swimming | 55% |
| Position 3 | Athletics | 57% | Volleyball | 59% | Loon | 45% |
| Position 1 | Position 2 | Position 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swimming 72% |
Judo 59% |
Athletics 57% |
|
| Athletics 64% |
Swimming 62% |
Volleyball 59% |
|
| Athletics 60% |
Swimming 55% |
Loon 45% |
In France, swimming emerged as the most-followed sport with 72% of respondents tuning in. In Italy, athletics took the lead with 64%, while in the United Kingdom, athletics was also the top choice with 60%. It is worth noting that the sports in which these nations secured medals—swimming in France, athletics in the UK and volleyball in Italy—naturally garnered the most attention.
Emotional Resonance of the GamesTo further understand the impact of the Games, we asked our panellists to share a single word that captured their experience of the Paris 2024 Olympics. The dominant sentiment was overwhelmingly positive across all three countries. An impressive 76% of participants used words such as ‘incredible,’ ‘magical,’ ‘fantastic,’ ‘grandiose,’ ‘success’ and ‘unforgettable,’ highlighting the extraordinary and memorable nature of the event.
However, it's important to acknowledge that 24% of respondents expressed some level of criticism, using terms like ‘expensive,’ ‘commercial’ and ‘disappointing.’
ConclusionIn conclusion, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games were largely deemed a resounding success, leaving a lasting impression on audiences around the world. While there were some critiques, the overall reception was highly positive and the event will be fondly remembered in many countries for years to come.
Methodology Note:
This survey was conducted through a quantitative online approach with our panel from August 12th to August 15th, 2024.
It involved 3,000 respondents aged 18 and over (1 000 per country), ensuring representation across genders and age
groups reflective of each country’s population.
