Publication

Poll on the Military Service Special Case for Arts and Sports

In an Institute for Reform poll (RIO 2026-09, October 6, 2026, n=1,001), 59.2% said the military service special case 'should not be given' to athletes who place third or higher at the Olympics or first at the Asian Games, against 33.1% who said it should be given. For artists who place second or higher at a designated international arts competition or first at a domestic one, 62.3% said it should not be given and 29.5% that it should. On the direction of the arts and sports special case system, 41.6% said eligibility should be reduced, 27.9% that the system should be abolished, 15.0% that it should be maintained and 10.2% that eligibility should be expanded; reduction and abolition together came to 69.5%. Abolition was chosen by 37.1% of men and 18.9% of women.