According to a recent Gallup Pakistan survey, close to 30 percent of a nationally representative sample of men and women claim to have seen the fire-works studded Opening Ceremony and 36 percent claim to have seen the closing ceremony this year.
The summer 2008 Olympic Events hosted last month in neighbouring China, captivated international attention with spectacular opening and closing ceremonies as well as a close contest between countries for the most number of medals, Gallup said.
There is a notable gender difference in attitudes towards Olympic. Women trail some 10 percent points behind men in most responses on interest and viewing of Olympic sports. The percentage of people, who watched a game, was higher, with 36percent saying they saw at least one match.
This figure was 42percent among men and 30percent among women. On a related subject of interest in sports, 66 percent Pakistanis say that they have some interest in sports events. However, cricket remained the undisputed national favourite and Kabbadi was found to be a popular pastime in the rural areas of the country.
These findings are based on a recent national survey conducted by Gallup Pakistan (Pakistan Institute of Public Opinion) the Pakistani affiliate of Gallup International.
The sample size was approximately 2100 men and women statistically chosen from all four provinces of the country comprising a cross-section of all ages, socio-economic and linguistic groups. Interviews were carried face to face on July 22-23, 2008 and August 31-September 02, 2008. Error margin of the survey is estimated to be approx. + 5 percent at 95 percent confidence level.