In a country known for its bleak weather, and this year for its equally gloomy economic forecasts, the Olympics may have been just what England needed.
A new survey released by the Guardian and ICM Research shows that more than two-thirds of those polled said the Games "did a valuable job in cheering up a country in hard times," while just 20 percent characterized them as "a costly and dangerous distraction."
Overall, the Olympics cost England roughly $14.5 billion (£9 billion), but in the months since the closing ceremony the Games have been viewed positively across almost all demographics. Every age bracket surveyed by the Guardian said the Games were well "worth the cost," while 79 percent of men and 77 percent of women agreed.
Interestingly, the good vibes appear to have increased since the apex of the Games themselves. ICM Research posed similar questions after Super Sunday, when popular athletes Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis and Greg Rutherford all took home gold medals. At that point, support for the Olympics was at 55 percent.
Last year 60 percent of Britons who took the Guardian's poll said they thought the Olympics would make their nation a more miserable place to live. Now, however, nearly half of the respondents said they think Britain is a better place to reside after the Olympics.
(H/T to Game On!)
