6285.0 - Involvement in Organised Sport and Physical Activity, Australia, Apr 2007  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 19/12/2007   
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MEDIA RELEASE
December 19, 2007
Embargoed 11.30 am (AEDT)
135/2007
Australians still keen on sport: ABS

Australians are as keen on sport as ever, with more than a quarter of the population involved in organised sport or physical activity, according to a report released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

In the year to April 2007, 3.8 million people played an organised sport, and 1.6 million were in a support role such as coach, referee or committee member.

This is over a quarter (27%) of all Australians aged 15 or older, and it is the same overall figure as the last two surveys (in 2001 and 2004).

People between the ages of 15-24 had the highest overall participation rate (39%) while people over 65 had the lowest (18%), and people between 35-44 were most often in support roles (16%).

The survey also found that:
  • Males were more likely to be involved (30%) in organised sport than females (24%), and more males (26%) played sport than females (20%).
  • More males (11%) had a support role than females (9%), however the proportion of females has increased from 8% in 2004.
  • Of the 4.5 million people involved in organised sport, 8% were paid for their involvement.

Of the 1.6 million support people:
  • 659,000 (41%) were involved as a coach and 381,000 (24%) were involved as a referee or umpire.
  • 40% had two or more different support roles.
  • Over one-third (38%) of support people had a qualification relevant to their role; most frequently these related to medical roles (87%).
  • More than half (56%) were associated with school or junior sport.

Further details can be found in Involvement in Organised Sport and Physical Activity, Australia (cat. no. 6285.0).