Paris, September 17, 2004 – Ninety Two percent of French people believe the Olympics would have a positive
impact on France if the Games were awarded to Paris in 2012, according to the
findings of the latest French public opinion poll.
Paris 2012 commissioned independent research company, TNS Sofres, to conduct
the poll on September 3 and 4, 2004. A sample of 600 Parisians, 800 people from
the Ile-de-France region and 1000 people from greater France were interviewed.
Phillipe Baudillon, Chief Executive Officer of Paris 2012, believes that the
poll results provide a massive boost for the Paris 2012 bid. "Paris 2012 has worked
very hard to share its Olympic aspirations and awaken "L’Amour des Jeux" within
the people of France. The recent success of the Athens 2004 Olympics may have
further boosted French enthusiasm for the Games. We are thrilled to see that the
French public are confident about the benefits that the Games would have on our
country, and are unified in their support for our Bid to bring the 2012 Olympics
to Paris," he said.
Other highlights of the poll include:
• 90% of French people are aware that Paris is bidding for the 2012 Games – showing
an increase in awareness of 9 points since July, 2004
• 75% of Parisians, 81% of people in Ile-de-France and 79% of the French are
in favour of Paris hosting the 2012 Games, showing an increase of 1, 4 and 6 points
respectively since July, 2004
• Areas that the French public (92%) believe would be impacted positively by
the Games include: Taxes; Tourism; planning and development of the Ile-de-France
region; employment; economic growth; the environment; the practice of sport in
France and the international image of France.