Canadians see Olympic benefits

Canadians outside B.C. are more likely than British Columbiansto believe the province and Vancouver will benefit from the Olympics, a poll conducted for CBC News suggests.

Non-residents of B.C. are also more likely to find the cost of the Olympics appropriate.

Overall, 75 per cent of Canadians surveyed outside B.C. said they thought the Olympics would have at least some benefit for Canada as a whole, the poll bythe Environics Research Groupfound. Eighty-one per cent said the Games would benefit B.C., and 86 per cent said they'd be good for Vancouver.

Fewer people in B.C. and Vancouver agreedthat the giant two-week event, whichofficially launches Friday night, will have positive effects.

Among the British Columbians outside Vancouver who were surveyed, 59 per cent expected at least some benefit to Canada, 63 per cent saw benefits for B.C. and 75 per cent saw benefits for Vancouver.

Among Vancouver residents, 77 per centexpect the city will derive at least some benefits from the Games.

People surveyed in Alberta (83 per cent), Manitoba and Saskatchewan (82 per cent), and Ontario (79 per cent) were the most likely to think the Olympics would have at least some benefit to Canada.

Canadians aged 18 to 29 were most likely to believe the Olympics wouldbenefit the country as a whole,at 82 per cent, the poll indicated. There were no notable differences between men and women on this issue, Environics said.

Opinions split on cost

Canadiansare dividedover the costs ofputting on theOlympics, the poll suggests.

Some 43 per cent of those surveyed said too much was being spent by the federal government, the province of B.C. and the City of Vancouver. Forty-one per cent said the right amountwas being spent.

In B.C. and Vancouver, the story wasdifferent. Seven out of 10 B.C. residents (70 per cent) saidtoo much was being spent and two-thirds (65 per cent) of Vancouver residents agreed.

Some 22 per centof both B.C. residents and Vancouver residents said just the right amount was being spent. Quebecersindicated the most support for Olympic spending, with 56 per cent feeling that just the right amount of moneywas being spent on the Games.