4156.0 - Sport and Recreation: A Statistical Overview, Australia , 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 29/03/2006   
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Contents >> Chapter 5.1 Attendance at Sports Events - Introduction >> Chapter 5.2 Attendance at Sports Events - Characteristics of Persons Attending Sports Events



ATTENDANCE AT SPORTS EVENTS




CHARACTERISTICS OF PERSONS ATTENDING SPORTS EVENTS

Different surveys provide data relating to attendance at sports events for different populations within the Australian community. Data are presented here for adults aged 18 years and over; persons aged 5 years and over with a disability; and interstate and international visitors aged 15 years and over.


Adults aged 18 years and over

During the 12 months prior to interview in 2002, 7.0 million or 48.2% of Australians aged 18 years and over attended at least one sports event. More males (4.0 million or 56.0%) attended than females (3.0 million or 40.7%).


The attendance rate at sports events was highest for persons aged 18-24 years and declined across the age groups. Attendance rates varied among the states and territories, ranging from 43.7% in New South Wales to 56.7% in the Northern Territory (in predominantly urban areas only).


The attendance rate at sports events was higher for persons employed full-time (62.2%) than persons employed part-time (51.0%), unemployed persons (42.8%) and persons not in the labour force (27.4%).

5.1 ADULT ATTENDANCE AT SPORTS EVENTS(a), Characteristics of attendants - 2002
NUMBER
ATTENDANCE RATE
Males
Females
Persons
Males
Females
Persons
'000
'000
'000
%
%
%
Age group (years)
18-24
676.9
552.6
1 229.4
69.8
59.1
64.5
25-34
983.7
696.3
1 680.0
67.6
47.9
57.8
35-44
903.0
694.2
1 597.2
61.9
47.1
54.5
45-54
732.5
542.3
1 274.8
55.4
41.0
48.2
55-64
446.3
295.8
742.1
46.9
31.7
39.4
65 and over
274.2
197.7
471.9
26.9
16.3
21.2
State or territory
New South Wales
1 262.7
875.7
2 138.3
52.1
35.4
43.7
Victoria
1 085.2
805.2
1 890.3
60.1
43.3
51.6
Queensland
700.2
565.0
1 265.3
52.2
41.5
46.8
South Australia
328.9
259.2
588.1
59.0
45.0
51.9
Western Australia
438.3
324.5
762.7
61.6
45.5
53.5
Tasmania
93.5
68.8
162.3
55.7
38.8
47.0
Northern Territory(b)
33.8
26.0
59.8
61.3
51.5
56.7
Australian Capital Territory
73.9
54.7
128.6
64.7
46.8
55.7
Region
Capital city(c)
2 628.4
1 900.8
4 529.2
56.4
39.6
47.9
Other
1 388.1
1 078.1
2 466.3
55.1
42.7
48.9
Labour force status
Employed
Full-time
2 901.0
1 202.8
4 103.8
65.7
55.2
62.2
Part-time
440.5
935.8
1 376.3
58.6
48.1
51.0
Unemployed
142.1
101.0
243.0
46.0
38.9
42.8
Not in the labour force
533.0
739.4
1 272.4
31.3
25.1
27.4
Total
4 016.6
2 978.9
6 995.5
56.0
40.7
48.2
(a) Relates to persons aged 18 years and over during the 12 months prior to interview.
(b) Refers to mainly urban areas only.
(c) Excludes Canberra and Darwin.
Source: Sports Attendance, Australia, 2002 (cat. no. 4174.0).


Persons with a disability

During the 12 months prior to interview in 1998, 952,800 (28.2%) persons aged 5 years and over with a disability attended at least one sports event. Disability was defined as any limitation, restriction or impairment, which had lasted, or was likely to last, for at least six months and restricted everyday activities. As with the general adult population, more males (32.8%) attended a sports event than did females (23.4%). Of the 952,800 persons with a disability who had attended a sports event, 311,500 (32.7%) stated that it was the main activity they had participated in away from home.


The overall sport attendance rate for persons aged 5 years and over with a disability during the 12 months prior to interview in 1998 (28.2%) was lower than that for the general adult population aged 18 years and over during the 12 months prior to interview in 2002 (48.2%). In addition to being derived from data sources which are four years apart in time, these attendance rates are not directly comparable because they relate to populations spanning different age groups and with different age distributions. For example, 33.9% of persons with a disability were aged 65 years and over compared with 12.2% in the general adult population. A higher proportion of older persons in a population may result in a lower sports attendance rate, since only 21.2% of persons aged 65 years and over in the general adult population had attended a sports event in the 12 months prior to interview in 2002.

5.2 ATTENDANCE AT SPORTS EVENTS(a), By disability status and sex - 1998
Profound core
activity
restriction(b)
Severe core
activity
restriction(b)
Moderate core
activity
restriction(b)
Mild core
activity
restriction(b)
Schooling or employment restriction
All with
specific
restrictions(c)
All with disability(d)
NUMBER ('000)
Males
35.6
89.9
84.1
172.1
313.3
462.8
568.0
Females
19.1
71.4
69.3
108.5
199.9
321.5
384.8
Persons
54.7
161.2
153.4
280.6
513.2
784.3
952.8
ATTENDANCE RATE (%)
Males
22.1
33.6
25.1
32.3
34.5
31.1
32.8
Females
9.2
24.2
21.8
21.9
26.6
22.1
23.4
Persons
14.8
28.6
23.5
27.3
30.9
26.7
28.2
(a) Refers to persons aged 5 years and over, living in households only, who attended a sports event as a spectator away from home during the 12 months prior to interview.
(b) Core activities comprise communication, mobility and self care.
(c) Total may be less than the sum of the components as persons may have both a core activity restriction and a schooling or employment restriction.
(d) Includes those who do not have a specific restriction.
Source: Disability, Ageing and Carers: Summary of Findings, Australia, 1998 (cat. no. 4430.0) and ABS data available on request.


Australian residents travelling within Australia

During 2002 it was estimated that, among Australians aged 15 years and over, there were 75,339 who went on an overnight trip, and 142,133 who went on a day trip, within Australia. The Bureau of Tourism Research defines overnight travel as a stay away from home of at least one night at a place at least 40 kilometres from home. A day trip is defined as travel for a round trip distance of at least 50 kilometres, and of at least 4 hours duration, which does not incorporate a night away from home.


From the travellers interviewed, it was estimated that 2,696 or 3.6% had attended an organised sports event while on an overnight trip and 3,526 or 2.5% had attended an organised sports event while on a day trip. The Bureau of Tourism Research further estimated that for 1.4% of overnight travellers (1,038 persons), and 2.2% of day travellers (3,058 persons), attending an organised sports event was a purpose of their travel.


International visitors to Australia

The Bureau of Tourism Research estimated that, in 2002, there were 4.5 million international visitors to Australia aged 15 years and over. Visitors surveyed had stayed in Australia for less than 12 months and were interviewed when departing from major Australian airports (Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, Perth, Adelaide and Darwin). From the survey interviews, it was estimated that 302,497 or 7.4% had attended an organised sports event while in Australia. It was further estimated that, for 0.9% of international visitors to Australia, attending an organised sports event was a purpose of their travel.



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