A Longitudinal Survey in Turin and the Alp Valleys (2002–2007): Expectations and Worries of the Population

This chapter addresses the worries and expectations of the population in two areas of Piedmont (Turin and Alp Valleys) that hosted the Olympic Winter Games in 2006. The research, a longitudinal survey of 7000 telephone CATI interviews from 2002 to 2007 (5400 in Turin, 1600 in the valleys), is one of the largest carried out in the history of the Games. The survey describes the evolution of the public’s response to the Games over six years and compares the two populations involved with significant differences between the two parties (Bondonio et al., 2006; Guala, 2015; Guala & Turco, 2013; Scamuzzi, 2006). The first part of the chapter presents the main goals of the research initiative promoted by the Turin Chamber of Commerce, including an analysis of similar surveys in other editions of the Games. A reflection on the research’s implications will explain the initiative’s goal and the potential use of the results.