Most Canadians think Olympics will go over budget: poll
Last Updated: Sunday, February 7, 2010 | 10:37 PM ET
The Canadian Press
More than three-quarters of Canadians believe the Vancouver Winter Games will end up over budget, according to a new Canadian Press–Harris-Decima poll.
In a survey conducted last month, 84 per cent of those polled indicated they thought the Games will finish in the red, while just three per cent felt they would be under budget and six per cent said they'll break even.
The skepticism was strongest in B.C., where 90 per cent indicated they think the Olympics will be a money-loser.
Harris-Decima senior vice-president Doug Anderson says memories of the huge cost overruns at the Montreal Summer Olympics in 1976 are probably to blame for the perception, despite the fact the 1988 Calgary Winter Games made a profit.
The poll also showed Canadians see winning the gold medal in men's hockey is more important than Canada topping the overall medal rankings.
The telephone survey of 1,000 Canadians was conducted Jan. 21-24.
