Poll: 44 percent oppose decision to hold Olympics in Russia

The plurality of people believe it was a bad decision to hold the Winter Olympics in Russia, a new poll finds. 

According to a Pew poll released Tuesday, 44 percent of people think the decision was a bad idea, while 32 percent said it was a good decision. Twenty-four percent do not know. 

{mosads}Sixty-two percent of those who think it was a bad idea to hold the Games in Russia cite security concerns. That far outnumbers any other concern given in an open-ended question. 

Some lawmakers have expressed concern with security at the Games, and the White House has offered full security support.

Many politicians, including President Obama and Mitt Romney, have not discouraged Americans from attending. The Games start later this week in Sochi, Russia. 

Five percent of people said their main concern was President Vladimir Putin and the Russian government. Less than 5 percent cited the country’s treatment of gay people, political unrest or the mere fact that they do not like the country. 

The survey polled 1,003 people and has a 3.6 percent margin of error.