ICPSR explores Olympics data through the years
Delayed a year by the pandemic, the 2021 Olympics season is here. We explored our archives to see what the data tell us about the Olympics through the years. There are at least 278 Studies, 291 Variables, 39 Series, and 1 Data-related Publication tied to the ICPSR website search term “olympics.”
The CBS News/New York Times Election Surveys, 1980 asked, “IF THE SOVIET UNION DOES NOT WITHDRAW ITS TROOPS FROM AFGHANISTAN, DO YOU THINK THE UNITED STATES SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT TAKE PART IN THE SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES IN MOSCOW?”
The special topic CBS News/New York Times Tonya Harding Hearing Poll, February 1994 (ICPSR 6592) focused on figure skater Tonya Harding's disciplinary hearing by the United States Figure Skating Association. Questions covered the sport of figure skating in general, and the actions of the United States Figure Skating Association and the United States Olympic Committee in particular. Respondents were also asked to give their personal opinions of Tonya Harding, injured figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, and Harding's boyfriend, Jeff Gillooly. Background information on respondents includes voter registration status, household composition, vote choice in the 1992 presidential election, political party, political orientation, education, age, sex, race, religious preference, and family income.
Respondents in the ABC News/Washington Post Poll, August 1996 were asked about their confidence that the government would find the suspects responsible for the Olympic Games Bombing in Atlanta: “You've probably heard or read about the recent bombing at the Olympic Games in Atlanta. How much confidence do you have in the ability of the U.S. government to catch the people who carried out that bombing - would you say you're very confident they'll be caught, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not at all confident?” A serial bomber was eventually sentenced to life in prison for this bombing and others.
The CBS News/Vanity Fair Monthly Poll, November 2009 asked respondents: “Which of the following ceremonies would you most like to participate in? 1. Flipping the coin at the Super Bowl, 2. Throwing out the first pitch at a World Series, 3. Ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange, 4 . Directing the racers to "Start your engines" at the Indianapolis 500, 5. Lighting the Olympic Torch, or 6. Laying a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier?” (Q6: Participate in Ceremony) -Spoiler - the unweighted data show that “Lighting the Olympic Torch” is the second-most-popular preference.
The Substance Use Among Violently Injured Youth in an Urban Emergency Department: Services and Outcomes in Flint, Michigan, 2009-2013 study contains data about respondents’ community activities, including the Flint Olympian Games, launched in July of 1957.
"Do you favor or oppose New York City's hosting the 2012 Summer Olympics? Esta usted a favor de o en contra de que la ciudad de Nueva York anfitrione los Juegos Olimpicos del ano 2012?"
Source: CBS News/New York Times New York State Poll, February 2005
"What about Olympic athletes? How many American Olympic athletes do you think use steroids or other performance enhancing drugs – most of them, about half of them, about a quarter of them, or only a few of them?" Source: CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #2, December 2003
Do you have data related to sports or the Olympics that you’d like to preserve and share?
Extend your research impact and consider archiving your sports and Olympics-related research data with ICPSR (so that it may continue to answer research questions in the years to come). Visit our data deposit page for more information.
Editor’s note: Special thanks to Kathryn Lavender, Shelly Petrinko, and Jayland Wilson.
Contact: Dory Knight-Ingram
Jul 21, 2021