Background to the Research

• In November 1997, RES was commissioned by the SCNI to conduct a survey of attitudes to sport and physical attitudes amongst the general population in NI. The survey built upon previous public attitude work commissioned by the SCNI and addressed in particular the following issues:
  • Awareness of the Sports Council Sport and the National Lottery.
  • Involvement in Sports.
  • Supporting Sport.
  • Health and Well Being related to sport.
  • Cultures and Identity issues associated with sport.

Research Approach

• The survey was designed to yield a representative sample of men and women aged 18 and over living in private households in NI. The 1998 Register of Electors was used as a sampling frame and the survey was implemented using probability based random sample using probability proportionate to size. All interviews were carried out in respondent's homes; The total sample was 1500.

Main Findings

• 60% of respondents had heard of the SCNI. Men were more likely to had heard of SCNI than women as were those who were active in sport. Helping sports men and women to achieve sporting success and encouraging talented young people to achieve sporting success were much better known by respondents than activities such as helping local schools to open their sports facilities to the public. Again, awareness of these activities was higher amongst those who were active in sport.
• The level of Lottery participation was higher amongst respondents than was found in the English Sports Council survey (62% in NI compared to 59% in England). Average total spend per week on the National Lottery was £2.83 and 88% of respondents were aware that money raised through the National Lottery was distributed to good causes as well as being used for prize money
• Respondents felt some things should not receive Lottery funding, the Millennium Fund was the least popular cause with 39% saying it should not receive funding. 27% felt funding should go to "all island" facilities (NI and the South of Ireland) with Protestants being three times more likely than Catholics to say no. 25% were opposed to grants paid as a bonus to sports men and women when they win medals or world championships in their sport
• Spending Lottery money on helping NI achieve international sporting success was thought by 78% to be important and football, boxing and swimming were the most frequently mentioned as sports in which NI may be capable of attaining world class performances and which should receive priority for Lottery funding. Snooker, athletics, rugby and golf were the next most frequently mentioned.
• Football/soccer was the most popular choice as a sport personally important to respondents, followed by tennis, snooker and Gaelic football. When asked which from a list of sports they most closely related or were involved with, football/soccer was the most frequent choice followed by snooker, swimming/diving and Gaelic football.
• Asked about their main involvement in sport, 48% were participants in at least one sport, 31% said they were spectators and 1% said they were administrators. Average length of involvement in respondents' main sport was 17 years.
• 55% of respondents felt that tobacco sponsorship should not be allowed in sport and 52% were against allowing alcohol sponsorship in sports. 61% said that alcohol should be banned from all sporting venues.
• 31% of respondents said that there were some sports which reinforced divisions between men and women, namely, football, boxing, snooker, cricket and rugby. Gaelic football and hurling were seen by a majority as a predominantly or exclusively Catholic sport whilst rugby was perceived by 21% to be exclusively or predominantly Protestant.
• Asked about sports which have been influential in helping build bridges between the two communities, 25% said football/soccer, 12% said boxing and 11% said rugby. Asked about sports which have reinforced divisions between the two communities, 27% said Gaelic football, 14% said football/soccer and 15% said hurling.
• 46% felt that the troubles had contributed to spectator violence and 32% felt that travel to venues by spectators had been affected. 19% thought that the public image of sport was affected quite a bit or a great deal by the troubles, but just 6% thought that the troubles affected the standard of performance of participants.