PARTICIPATION IN SPORT AND PHYSICAL RECREATION

Participation in sport and physical activities is an important feature of the Australian lifestyle and plays a large part in Australians' lives. Participation in sport and physical activities provides opportunities for social interaction and opportunities for improving health and physical fitness.

Between 1999-2000 and 2005-06, participation in sport and physical recreation activities rose from 55% to 65%. While men and women's participation rates in sport in 2005-06 were the same (65%), men were more likely to participate in sport once or twice a week, while women were more likely to participate in sport more than twice a week. Walking for exercise, participating in aerobics or fitness and swimming were the three most common sports for both men and women. The next most popular sports for women were tennis, cycling or netball, whereas men were more likely to participate in golf, cycling, running and outdoor cricket.

The two main motivators reported in 2005-06 by both men and women for participating in sport and physical recreation were health and fitness (52% of men and 60% of women) and enjoyment (26% of men and 14% of women). For men, the third main motivator was social and family (8%) while for women it was wellbeing (9%).

For the 6.4 million Australians who did not participate or had occasional and infrequent (part year or full year) participation in sport and physical recreation activities, reasons most commonly reported for not participating were insufficient time due to work, study, age or they were not interested.