4156.0 - Sport and Recreation: A Statistical Overview, Australia, 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 14/11/2003   
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MEDIA RELEASE

November 14, 2003
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
121/2003

Are Australian sports in good shape

Organisations mainly involved in providing sports and physical recreation services generated $4.8 billion worth of income, according to the latest sports industry reference bible released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Sport industry figures compiled from various ABS reports revealed that government funding of sports and physical recreation was worth $2.1 billion, while business contributed $628 million in support and sponsorship.

Latest spending habits indicated that Australian households spent an average of $11.03 per week on sports and physical recreation equipment and activities. Retail sales of sports and physical recreation products totalled $3.8 billion. Imports of sporting goods were valued at $1.2 billion and exports reached $463 million.

There were 83,008 people employed in a range of occupations in the sports sector and more than a million volunteers (1,140,700) acting in supporting roles.

More than 9 million adults (62% of the population) participated in some form of sport or physical recreation in 2002 and almost half of the adult population (7 million or 48%) attended a sporting event.

In 2002, the Australian Capital Territory was the most active state or territory with 76% of the adult population participating in sports or physical recreation. South Australia was the least active, with only 58% participating.

Further details are in Sport and Recreation: A Statistical Overview, Australia (cat. no. 4156.0).

Media Note:
  • More detailed information on attendance at sporting events will be published in Sports Attendance, Australia (cat. no. 4174.0), and
  • More detailed information on participation in sports and physical recreation (including individual sports) will be published in Participation in Sport and Physical Activities, Australia (cat. no. 4177.0), due for release in December, 2003.