Audience research reveals surprise generational views on Australia’s Olympic team

The Boomers will be first out of the blocks to cheer on the Aussies at the Olympics, but they’re not the ones who caught audience researchers off-guard.

Two generations of the sports-loving Weatherald family are vying for top Olympic viewing status in 2024 … but will it be Gen Z’s Katie and Lucy or their Boomer grandparents Michael and Julie who take in the most sport? Picture: Dean Martin

When the Olympic Games kick off it will be on for young and old in homes across the nation with Zoomers – Generation Z – and Baby Boomers the most likely to be cheering on, new national research shows.

Analysis by McCrindle Research finds it is young people born between 1995 and 2009 as well as older Australians, born between 1946 and 1964, who are most intent on getting into the sporting action in just over a week.

McCrindle social researcher Ashley Fell said the high interest from the post-Millennial generation in supporting local talent hadn’t been anticipated

“I think sometimes there is a perception the Olympic Games mightn’t be as relevant as it once was but we’ve seen the majority of people are really interested and excited for it – and keen to tune in, which is great,” she said.

“But it is the Baby Boomers at the older end and Gen Z at the younger end who are most likely to make a point to watch the events, slightly more than those in the middle years of Gen Y (1980 to 1994) and Gen X (1965 to 1979).”

Social researcher Ashley Fell says the national analysis has revealed some interesting statistics.

In fact, it is Gen Z who are most likely to host a “watch party” for Olympic events Australians are competing in while Gen X is least likely to be counting down.

“In part I think this reflects the recent hype we’ve seen around the Matildas; Gen Z, in particular, has turned watching them into a social event through things such as ‘watch parties’,” Ms Fell said.

“It is fascinating to see just how engaged we are … the quadrennial summer Olympics games brings Australians a sense of pride and national camaraderie.”

Swimming emerges as among the top three most popular sports to watch across the generations with only Gen Z not listing it as a preferred sport – choosing basketball instead.

Athletics, artistic gymnastics and diving are also among the most favourite across the generations.

Adelaide’s sports-loving Weatherald family are no exception.

Zoomer Lucy, 17, is keen to see the basketball competition, listing Patty Mills and Josh Giddy as her favourite players while older sibling Katie, 18, is most looking forward to the volleyball and soccer, singling out Mary Fowler as a favourite star.

For Boomer grandparents, Mick and Julie Weatherald, born in 1947 and 1949 respectively, it is the athletics and swimming action they are most looking forward to.

“Our most memorable Olympic moment was in 2000 in Sydney – we were in the stadium watching when Cathy Freeman won the 400m gold,” Mrs Weatherald said.

Three in five Australians (61 per cent) shared they felt a strong sense of national pride when watching Australian athletes compete 41 per cent saying they preferred watching the Olympics with a group of friends or family.

More than two in five Australians plan to follow the Olympics closely each day.