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.

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

4. 18.80%
28.60%
24.50%
28.30%
18-
25
AGE RANGE
5.20%
94.80%
Yes No
ATTENDING
OLYMPICS
4

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%)
5

6. Does viewing preference of the 2016
Olympic Games differ based on Country
of residence?
RESULTS: YES
(CHI SQUARE)
QUESTION 1 6

7. 0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
In Person Media No Interest
USA
China
Other
VIEWING PREFERENCE 7

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

11. 3.55 3.64 3.69
3.49
2.9
2.16
2.48
3.42
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
INFERENTIAL STATISTICS MEAN SCORES11

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

13. 63
46.63
30
69
42.6
33
0
20
40
60
80
USA CHINA OTHER
Zika Contaminated Water
HEALTH RISKS (A & SA) 13

14. ZIKA VIRUS
3
3.5
4
USA CHINA

15. CONTAMINATED WATER
2.5
3
3.5
4
USA CHINA OTHER

16. 59.6 60.99
54.54
66.45
60.99
66.6
55.22 55.16
44.82
0
20
40
60
80
USA CHINA OTHER
Riots/Demonstratons Terrorism Street Crime
SAFETY ISSUES (A & SA) 16

17. 17TERRORISM (Mean Scores)
2.5
3
3.5
4
USA CHINA OTHER

18. 27.7
14.28
61.62
18.55
41.71
33.64
52.02
31.39
23.33
13.33
43.33
30
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Unknown Situations Passports/Visas Time/Finances Personal Health
USA CHINA OTHER
PERSONAL ISSUES (A & SA) 18

19. 19FEAR OF UNKOWN
1.82
2.85
2.16
0
5
USA CHINA OTHER

20. 20PASSPORTS & VISAS
1.82
2.85
2.16
0
1
2
3
USA CHINA OTHER

21. RESULTS: DEPENDENT VARIABLES
VARIABLE RESULT
Gender No
Age No
Attendance No
Country Yes
21

22. WHY IS THERE A
STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT
DIFFERENCE BASED ON
COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE?
22

23. 23

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).
26

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,
27

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.
28

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).
29

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
30