Thursday, August 3 Japanese viewers most interested in Games
	Associated Press LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- The Sydney Olympics are expected to break a record by reaching about 3.7 billion viewers. Projections by the International Olympic Committee say enthusiasm is highest in Japan, with 88 percent of people questioned saying they are "very" or "somewhat" interested in watching the Olympics on television, an IOC-commissioned poll found. The survey, released Thursday, said 81 percent of those questioned in South Korea professed interest, followed by 80 percent in Ireland, Finland and Lithuania, and 79 percent in China and Greece. In Australia, the figure is 78 percent, and it's 72 percent in the United States. IOC marketing director Michael Payne described the figures as "phenomenal," and they are expected to rise as the Games' Sept. 15 start nears. With an interest rating of just 41 percent, Portugal ranked last in the survey, conducted by the public opinion research firm Ipsos-Reid. No African or Middle Eastern nations were represented in the poll of 39 countries, and no margin of error was given. The sale of broadcast rights for the Sydney Games is due to earn the Olympic movement $1.3 billion, including $705 million paid by NBC for rights in the United States. The Atlanta Games reached an estimated 3 billion people. The IOC said its projection for an increase was due to a rise in the number of people with access to television and in the number of broadcasters covering the event.		ALSO SEE EU warns Australia over Olympic TV access