INTRODUCTION
This chapter provides data on the number and characteristics of persons attending sporting events. The information draws on a number of data sources that are briefly discussed below. The economic benefits of staging sports events is discussed in later chapters.
The Multi-Purpose Household Survey (MPHS) collected information on attendance at sporting events and venues from July 2005 to June 2006 from persons aged 15 years and over. Attendance data from the MPHS has been published in Sports Attendance, Australia, 2005-06 (cat. no. 4174.0). Information on this topic was previously collected as a supplement to the 2002 General Social Survey and in the 1999 Monthly Population Survey conducted in April 1999. These surveys collected data from persons aged 18 years and over. Data for this age group has been included in this publication for comparative purposes.
The 2003 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers obtained information regarding whether persons aged 5 years and over with a disability had attended a sports event away from home in the previous 12 months. Data from this survey have been published in Disability, Ageing and Carers: Summary of Findings, Australia, 2003 (cat. no. 4430.0). The survey was previously conducted in 1998.
The Time Use Survey, conducted in 2006, collected detailed information about the daily activity patterns, including attendance at sport events, of persons in Australia aged 15 years and over. Data from this survey have been published in editions of How Australians Use Their Time (cat no. 4153.0).
When comparing data from different sources it is important to take into consideration the scope and methodology of the surveys. These issues are noted throughout the chapter where such comparisons are made.