This study analyzed survey responses from 728 individuals about their perceptions of health, safety, and personal concerns regarding attendance at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The following key points were found:
1. Viewing preferences differed significantly based on country of residence, with U.S. respondents more interested in attending in person and Chinese respondents more interested in media coverage.
2. Perceptions of risks from health issues like Zika and water contamination, as well as safety issues like crime and terrorism, were significantly higher among U.S. respondents compared to Chinese and others.
3. These differences were likely due to cultural variations in uncertainty avoidance between countries, with U.S. culture exhibiting less tolerance for unknown situations.
Final perceptions of health and security issues rio olympics
1. PERCEPTIONS OF
HEALTH & SAFETY
ISSUES AT THE 2016
RIO OLYMPICS
DR. BONNIE TIELL (USA) & SHI YING (CHINA)
2. PURPOSE
1. Determine how perceptions of
health, safety, and personal concerns
impact decisions to attend the 2016
Rio Olympics
2. Describe viewing preferences
2
3. USA China Other
Series1 472 225 31
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
728 SURVEY RESPONSES
GENDER
Male
40%
Female
60%
Male Female
3
5. TESTING RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Differences between groups for each question
- Nominal Data: Chi-Square Analysis
- Interval Data: T-tests & One-Way ANOVA
Research questions were all conducted at a 95%
confidence level (p<.05%)
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6. Does viewing preference of the 2016
Olympic Games differ based on Country
of residence?
RESULTS: YES
(CHI SQUARE)
QUESTION 1 6
8. MEDIA CONSUMPTION (ALL) 8
90.20%
62.10%
19.50%
8.40%
0.00%
20.00%
40.00%
60.00%
80.00%
100.00%
Television Internet Print Radio
9. Do perceptions of health, safety, and other
concerns discouraging attendance at the 2016
Olympic Games differ based on
2) Gender?
3) Age?
4) Actual Attendance?
5) Country of Residence?
QUESTIONS 2-5 9
10. The Following would Discourage You from
Attending the 2016 Olympic Games
1. STRONGLY DISAGREE
2. DISAGREE
3. NEITHER
4. AGREE
5. STRONGLY AGREE
10
DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS: MEAN SCORES
12. % AGREE OR STRONGLY AGREE
66
44.61
31.5
60.42 59.04 55.32
30.53
39.69
27.49
0
20
40
60
80
USA CHINA OTHER
Health Risks Safety Risks Personal Concerns
12
24. The extent to which the members of a
culture feel threatened by ambiguous or
unknown situations and have created
beliefs and institutions that try to avoid
these.
UNCERTAINTY AVOIDANCE
Hofstede, G. (2016). Dimensions of National Culture. GeertHofstede.nl. Available at
http://www.geerthofstede.nl/dimensions-of-national-cultures
24
25. 30 46
The lower the score…..
The more comfortable with UNKNOWN
situations and ambiguity
UNCERTAINTY
AVOIDANCE
25
26. Participant Comments - Safety
My friends and I were planning to go to Europe and one friend backed out due
to the fear of terrorist attacks.
I would not be interested in attending the Olympic games in any country at this
point, USA or otherwise. The risk of terrorism seems too high to me.
I have attended past Games but had no interest in traveling to Brazil for these
Games. The primary reason is personal safety.
The threat of terrorism is the greatest deterrent to travel at this point in time.
The radical Muslim factions must be stopped.
I have been to Rio twice for conferences. On both occasions I have been subject
to an attempted robbery/mugging (in broad daylight).
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27. Participant Comments – Zika & Health
Not worried about Zika...not planning to have children (I am a male)
I am trying to conceive, so, the Zika virus would be my top concern
Very concerned about the spread of Zika and the neurological effects ...will not go
to Rio because of it
I would not want to risk my health - Zika virus is a huge determining factor.
Zika virus is a real present danger to world health. May even be necessary to
postpone the event.
Too much health risk! They should move the games.
Water is an issue; other fears are VERY overblown,
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28. Participant Comments - Other
Would love to go, but no reason to face all the 'stuff' happening in Rio at
this time
News stories have clearly spelled out problems
There have been so many serious issues for the Rio Olympics, that I
would not go if I was given a free ticket.
The corruption of the Brazilian Government, along with that of the IOC,
discourages me.
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29. Participant Comments - Other
With a perception of the bribery and kick back schemes currently alleged
against numerous government officials I'd have concerns about whether
the government was ready.
I am not really worried about any of the Brazil issues because I'm used to
traveling to China where there are always potential problems with water,
disease, unknown situations, etc.
I live in Rio de Janeiro, and my opinion, It is not necessary to worry about
factors that are present in any big city (e.g. street crime) or can appear at
any global event (e.g. terrorism/unknown situations).
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30. RESEARCH TEAM
Lead Investigator Dr. Bonnie Tiell – Tiffin University
Secondary InvestigatorShi Ying – MBA Candidate
Methodologist: Dr. Perry Haan
Support Team:
Dr. David Waters Lori Sabatose Molly Magill
Katie Tiell Alex Mallue Anthony Madle
Anthony Garnica Kathleen Bautista Sonyia Wymiarkiewicz
Cara Roach Marcia-Gaye Knight Tatianna Carthorn
Ellen Kaplan
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