4177.0 - Participation in Sport and Physical Activities, Australia, 2002  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 08/12/2003   
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MEDIA RELEASE

December 8, 2003
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
137/2003
Participation in sport and physical activities

Nearly two-thirds (62% or 9.1 million) of Australians aged 18 years and over participated in sport and physical activities at least once during the 12 months prior to being surveyed in 2002, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today. Of these, 5.6 million people participated at least weekly on average.

More males than females had participated in sport and physical activities at least once in the 12 months prior to being surveyed in 2002 (65% and 60% respectively). However, a similar proportion (39%) of males and females reported participating in these activities at least weekly.

Walking for exercise was the most popular physical activity reported by over one-quarter (3.6 million people) of the population aged 18 years and over. Aerobics/fitness and swimming, both with 1.6 million participants, were the next most popular choices of sport and physical activities. Golf was also a popular activity, with 1.1 million people participating in this activity.

Nearly three-quarters (73% or 6.6 million) of Australians aged 18 years and over participated in one or two activities during the year. Men were more likely to participate in multiple sport and physical activities, with 32% participating in three or more activities, compared with 22% of women.

Further details are in Participation in sport and physical activities, Australia (cat. no. 4177.0).