SPORTS ATTENDANCE
PURPOSE
To provide information about the characteristics of people who attend sporting matches or competitions as spectators (excluding junior and school sport), and the extent of attendance at various sports.
DESCRIPTION
The Sports Attendance collection was conducted each month during 2005-06 as part of the Multi-Purpose Household Survey (MPHS). The MPHS is a supplement to the monthly Labour Force Survey (LFS) and covers all people aged 15 years and over who are usual residents of private dwellings in all but sparsely settled parts of Australia. Dwellings included in the survey were selected at random using a multi-stage area sample. Data were collected by personal interview with a randomly selected resident in each dwelling. The total sample for this survey (after allowing for sample loss and non-response) was just over 14,200 households.
Information on this topic was previously collected as a supplement to the General Social Survey (GSS) conducted during 2002, and as a supplement to the LFS conducted in April 1999 and March 1995.
GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE
Australia
FREQUENCY OF COLLECTION
Every three or four years.
DATA ITEMS
As this survey was conducted as part of the MPHS which is a supplement to the LFS, all of the data items from the MPHS and LFS are available for analysis alongside the data items shown below. These data items include geographic, demographic and various social and economic characteristics.
Also, see Attendance at selected cultural venues and events and Participation in sport and physical activities for data items collected in the remainder of the survey.
Number of persons
The number of persons in Australia aged 18 years or more.
Whether attended sporting matches or competitions
Records whether the person had been to any sporting matches or competitions (other than school and junior competitions) as a spectator in the last 12 months.
Sports attended
The main five (first five answers given) sports attended by the person in the last 12 months.
Attendance at motor sports
Records whether the person had attended any motor sports in the last 12 months. This data item was collected for the first time in the 1999 Survey.
Attendance at horse races
Records whether the person had attended any horse races in the last 12 months.
Attendance at harness races
Records whether the person had attended any harness races in the last 12 months.
Attendance at dog races
Records whether the person had attended any dog races in the last 12 months.
Frequency of attendance
For each sport attended, the number of times the person attended in the last 12 months was recorded. Categories are:
Once
Twice
Three times
Four times
Five times
6-10 times
11-15 times
16-20 times
21-25 times
26 times or more
Attendances at horse and dog racing while away from home
In the 1995 survey information was collected on:
Whether attended race meetings while staying more than 40 km from home
Whether such meetings were within the home State
Whether such meetings were interstate
Whether such meetings were overseas
Attendances at other sports while away from home
In the 1995 survey, for each of the five main sports attended, information was collected on:
Whether attended a match or event of that sport while staying more than 40 km from home
Whether such sport matches or events were within the home State
Whether such sport matches or events were interstate
In which States matches or events were attended
Whether such sport matches or events were overseas
HISTORICAL DATA
Tables 11, 12 and 13 of the 2005-06 publication provide comparisons with data collected in 1995 and 1999 from supplementary surveys to the monthly LFS. The methodology used in each of the three surveys differed and this may affect the validity of comparisons. Details about all of the differences in methodology are provided in the Explanatory Notes of the 2005-06 publication.
Sports attendance data collected as a supplement to the GSS during 2002 have not been included in the comparison tables because it is considered that the methodologies of the GSS and the MPHS are sufficiently different for the 2002 data not to be comparable with the 2005-06 data.
DISSEMINATION
Publications
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2007, Sports Attendance, Australia, 2005-06, Cat. no. 4174.0, ABS, Canberra. Price $26.00. Also available for March 1995, April 1999 and 2002.
Other
National Sport and Recreation Industry Database and Directory (NSRIDD).
CONTACT
In the first instance, refer to To obtain data or further information in the Introduction to this directory.
Sport and Recreation Contact Officer
National Centre for Culture and Recreation Statistics
Australian Bureau of Statistics
GPO Box 2272
ADELAIDE SA 5001
Telephone: Adelaide 08 8237 7399
Facsimile: Adelaide 08 8237 7366
Email: nccrs@abs.gov.au
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