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 persons aged 15 years and over.
During the 12 months prior to interview in 2005-06, walking for exercise attracted the largest number of both male and female participants. However, a much larger percentage of females participated in walking for exercise than males (33% compared with 17%).
Aerobics/fitness, swimming, cycling, tennis and running were amongst the top ten activities participated in by both males and females. There were, however, some marked differences in participation rates for some of these activities. More females participated in aerobics/fitness (16% compared with 9.4% for males) and swimming (10% compared with 8.0%). On the other hand, more males than females went cycling (8.8% compared with 3.9% for females) and participated in running (5.4% compared with 3.1%).
3.4 ADULT PARTICIPATION IN SPORT AND PHYSICAL RECREATION(a), Selected activities - 2005-06 |
|
 | Number | Participation rate |
| '000 | % |
MALES |
|
| Walking for exercise | 1 298.6 | 16.5 |
| Aerobics/fitness | 744.5 | 9.4 |
| Golf | 695.6 | 8.8 |
| Cycling | 691.0 | 8.8 |
| Swimming | 633.3 | 8.0 |
| Running | 425.9 | 5.4 |
| Tennis | 389.5 | 4.9 |
| Soccer (Outdoor) | 311.5 | 3.9 |
| Cricket (Outdoor) | 309.7 | 3.9 |
| Bushwalking | 248.1 | 3.1 |
FEMALES |
|
| Walking for exercise | 2 659.7 | 32.8 |
| Aerobics/fitness | 1 271.5 | 15.7 |
| Swimming | 814.0 | 10.0 |
| Netball | 387.5 | 4.8 |
| Tennis | 379.4 | 4.7 |
| Cycling | 320.7 | 3.9 |
| Bush walking | 271.4 | 3.3 |
| Running | 255.4 | 3.1 |
| Yoga | 248.7 | 3.1 |
| Golf | 179.9 | 2.2 |
|
| (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. |
| Source: Participation in Sports and Physical Recreation, Australia, 2005-06 (cat. no. 4177.0). |
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