OLDER PEOPLE

In 2005-06, for older people (aged 55 years and over) the most attended cultural venues and events were cinemas, botanical gardens and the library, and the least attended were dance performances. The proportion who attended cultural venues and events decreased with age (ABS 2007a).

For those aged 55 years and over, women were more likely than men to attend at least one cultural venue or event (75% compared with 71%). However, men were more likely to attend at least one sporting event (ABS 2007a; ABS 2007c).

Attendance at sporting events increased over the period 1995 to 2005-06. In 2005-06, 39% of persons aged 55-64 years attended a sporting event (excluding motor sports) compared with 34% in 1995. For those aged 65 and over, 23% attended in 2005-06 compared with 21% in 1995.

In 1995, the most attended sport by older people (55 years and over) was horse racing (295,500 people) followed by Australian rules football (256,700 people). Between 1999 and 2005-06 this was reversed: Australian rules football had the highest attendance followed by horse racing (ABS 2007c). In 2005-06, the proportion of older Australian women (aged 55-64 years) attending sporting events was lower than men (30% compared with 48%).

As with attendance at cultural venues and events and attendance at sports, participation in sport decreases as the age of participants increases. In 2005-06, persons aged 65 years and over had the lowest sports participation rate (49%) (ABS 2009d). Women aged 55-64 years were more likely to participate in sports and physical recreation than men (65% and 60% respectively), however for those aged 65 years and over men were slightly more likely to participate. For both men and women, walking for exercise was the most popular physical activity, however men were more likely to participate in lawn bowls and golf, whilst women had higher participation in aerobics, fitness and swimming.