Football, Formula One and the Olympics are the most popular spectator sports, the poll found. In Britain and Spain, men's tennis was also a top five spectator sport, while gymnastics made the top five in France and Italy.
The poll is based on online interviews with 500 people in each of Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, and is modelled on a study ESPN carries out in the US.
“The Sports Poll is unique in that it provides in-depth intelligence about the impact that sports has on the population with respect to involvement, media usage, and consumer behaviour,” said Artie Bulgrin, Senior Vice President at ESPN. “The monthly Sports Poll tracking in the US helps us identify trends that ultimately affect media and advertising performance. We are enthusiastic about what we can all learn in Europe now.”
A lower percentage of those interviewed in the European study – 22 per cent – regarded themselves as “avid” sports fans. In the latest figures from the US, sports fans stand slightly higher at 87 per cent and “avid” sports fans also higher at 30 per cent.
The polls have found a big difference in the way Europeans and Americans view the Olympics. In Europe, it figures very prominently in answers to the “favourite spectator sport” question, but US respondents are much less likely to choose it over the major American football, basketball, baseball and ice hockey leagues.
TNS and ESPN said the European poll showed interest in sport was greater in Spain and Italy than in Britain, Germany and France.
