4156.0 - Sports and Physical Recreation: A Statistical Overview, Australia, 2011  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 20/12/2011   
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Contents >> Participation in sport and physical recreation >> Participation in selected sports and physical recreation activities

PARTICIPATION IN SELECTED SPORTS AND PHYSICAL RECREATION ACTIVITIES

A major aim of ABS surveys about sport and physical recreation participation is to find out about the wide range of physical recreation activities in which people take part. This section presents summary information for the top ten sports and physical recreation activities participated in by men and women aged 15 years and over.

During the 12 months prior to interview in 2009-10, walking for exercise attracted the largest number of both male and female participants. However, a much larger percentage of women participated in walking for exercise than men (30% compared with 16%).

Aerobics/fitness, swimming, cycling, tennis and running were amongst the top ten activities participated in by both men and women. There were, however, some marked differences in participation rates for some of these activities. More women participated in aerobics/fitness (17% compared with 11% for men) and swimming (8% compared with 6%). On the other hand, more men than women went cycling (8% compared with 5% for women) and participated in running (8% compared with 6%).

3.4 Participants(a), Selected sports and physical recreation activities(b) - By sex - 2009-10
NUMBER
PARTICIPATION RATE
'000
%
MALES
Walking for exercise
1 347.6
15.6
Aerobics/fitness/gym
967.1
11.2
Cycling/BMXing
710.8
8.2
Jogging/running
643.9
7.5
Golf
643.2
7.5
Swimming/diving
553.1
6.4
Tennis
382.9
4.4
Soccer (outdoor)
319.6
3.7
Cricket (outdoor)
237.8
2.8
Basketball
235.5
2.7
FEMALES
Walking for exercise
2 657.3
30.0
Aerobics/fitness/gym
1 481.8
16.7
Swimming/diving
739.9
8.4
Jogging/running
492.0
5.6
Cycling/BMXing
430.7
4.9
Netball
411.3
4.6
Tennis
319.5
3.6
Yoga
273.0
3.1
Dancing/ballet
218.6
2.5
Bush walking
207.6
2.3
(a) Relates to persons aged 15 years and over who participated in physical activities for recreation, exercise or sport as players during the 12 months prior to interview.
(b) The top 10 activities for males and females in terms of total participation in 2009-10.
Source: Participation in Sport and Physical Recreation, Australia, 2009-10 (cat. no. 4177.0).








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