London 2012 Olympics: Young Londoners are the most excited about the Games

 
Overview: The main Olympic stadium and the ArcelorMittal Orbit
25 July 2012

Interest in the Olympics wanes the older people are and the further they live from London, according to a survey by travel organisation Abta.

Nearly 60% say they are looking forward to the Games, with young people the most keen.

But as many as 45% of those aged 55 and over say they are not looking forward to the Olympics at all, the poll of 2,068 people showed.

While 70% of Londoners are eager for the Games to start, only 50% of Scots are looking forward to the Olympics.

Overall, 7% are looking forward to attending an event, 40% are keen to watch the Games on television and 10% reckon the Olympics will have a positive effect on the atmosphere around the country.

The poll also showed that 19% of people are taking a holiday at home or abroad during the Olympics.

Of these, 59% said they always took a break at this time, with 7% citing the wet summer as a reason for going. Only 11% said they were having a holiday to get away from the Olympics and its crowds.

About 5% said they were still undecided about taking a holiday.

Abta communications head Victoria Bacon said: "Numbers taking holidays at this time are fairly consistent with past years showing that while some have chosen to forgo a summer holiday during the Games, these have been balanced by those wanting to get away."

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