The Olympic Games kicked off in Beijing only yesterday, but The Co-operative Group is already thinking ahead to 2012.

All this week the society has been polling its customers on whether netball should become an Olympic sport, showcasing at the 2012 games before making its full debut in 2016.

It has been encouraging customers to vote via chip and PIN at its checkouts. Video screens at tills, as well as in-store radio ads, have been alerting customers to the poll and the society said it hoped to receive support from thousands of customers.

“The Co-op is fully behind netball’s Olympic bid and wants to provide everyone with the opportunity to support the campaign while they are in stores,” said Debbie Robinson, director of food retail marketing at The Co-op Group. “I’m confident our customers will share our desire to have netball played at the Olympic Games.”