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 2011-12, 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 17%).
Fitness, cycling, swimming, 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 fitness (19% compared with 15% for men) while more men than women went cycling (10% compared with 5% for women) and participated in running (9% compared with 6%).
3.4 Participants(a), Selected sports and physical recreation activities(b) - By sex - 2011-12 |
|
 | NUMBER | PARTICIPATION RATE |
| '000 | % |
MALES |
|
| Walking for exercise | 1 474.1 | 16.5 |
| Fitness/gym | 1 343.6 | 15.1 |
| Cycling/BMXing | 875.5 | 9.8 |
| Jogging/running | 775.3 | 8.7 |
| Golf | 732.5 | 8.2 |
| Swimming/diving | 671.9 | 7.5 |
| Tennis | 436.1 | 4.9 |
| Soccer (outdoor) | 368.6 | 4.1 |
| Cricket (outdoor) | 268.3 | 3.0 |
| Basketball | 245.6 | 2.8 |
FEMALES |
|
| Walking for exercise | 2 784.7 | 30.4 |
| Fitness/gym | 1 745.7 | 19.1 |
| Swimming/diving | 729.2 | 8.0 |
| Jogging/running | 585.4 | 6.4 |
| Cycling/BMXing | 490.6 | 5.4 |
| Netball | 410.5 | 4.5 |
| Tennis | 314.2 | 3.4 |
| Yoga | 298.9 | 3.3 |
| Dancing/ballet | 229.1 | 2.5 |
| Bush walking | 216.8 | 2.4 |
|
| (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 a playing role in 2011-12. |
| Source: Participation in Sport and Physical Recreation, Australia, 2011-12 (cat. no. 4177.0). |
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