Support increases for 2028 Olympics

Press release, 8 March 2011

68% of Amsterdammers support ambitions

Enthusiasm for Amsterdam organising the Olympic Games in 2028 is on the up with the latest figures indicating that no less than 68% of Amsterdammers support the city’s Olympic ambitions. The figures also state that 48% of Dutch citizens think that the Netherlands has the best chance of being awarded the Olympics if Amsterdam is the central city of the bid.

A total of 40% of all Dutch citizens support the Dutch bid to organise the Olympics in 2028. These results are drawn from a survey to measure nationwide support amongst Dutch citizens conducted on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport in November 2010.

Enormous Impulse

Alderperson for Sport, Eric van der Burg, is pleased with the increasing enthusiasm, commenting: "Amsterdam is dedicated to bringing the Olympic Games to the Netherlands in 2028. It is essential that the Dutch populace support the bid. Roughly 4 out of 10 Dutch citizens currently support the bid, which is great. However, this figure can improve and it is essential that it does. The Olympics would be an enormous impulse in the country, both in terms of sport but also economically speaking. This is what we now need to demonstrate to the populace."

Significant advantages

Sufficient support amongst the populace is a major factor that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) take into consideration when deciding whether to accept a bid. In addition to the 40% that support the Dutch bid for the Olympics, a third of the interviewees reported not having a strong opinion one way or the other and 25% did not support the bid.

The survey indicated that the majority of the population (69%) is aware of the Dutch ambition to host the Olympics. The most significant advantages of hosting the Olympics were named as employment, increased tourism and economic growth while the interviewees noted the primary disadvantages as being the additional costs passed on to the taxpayer, construction of sports facilities that would be superfluous after the Olympics and an increased threat to safety.

Advantageous for the city and country

Alderperson Van der Burg is keen to point out that hosting the Olympics would be advantageous for both Amsterdam and the Netherlands for a number of reasons: "The Olympic Games would be beneficial for our city and country in the run up to the event as well as during the actual Olympics."

"The Olympics would bring an active sports culture, first-rate infrastructure, long-term employment, a good network of volunteers and impressive sports accommodation. It is a unique sports event which would be beneficial for a long time to come in many areas. These factors should enable us to persuade the 35% who are currently not convinced about the bid to change their opinion."

 City of Amsterdam Press Office, 8 March 2011