More than 6 million people aged 15+ attends a sporting event at least once each year

• Australian Rules was the most popular spectator sport with 1.9 million
• Horse racing with 1.7 million
• Rugby League with 1.5 million

Australian Rules has attendances estimated at 14 million +
Rugby League has attendances estimated at 8 million +

SPORTS PARTICIPATION

• 47.8% of persons aged 18 years + (6,338,100) participated in sport
• Australian-born persons were more likely to participate than those born overseas (52.0% compared with 37.4%)
• 80% of Aussies watch or play sport in a two week period

An ABS media release (20 October 1998) on Sport in Australia notes the following:

• 48% of Australians aged 18 years and over participated at least once in a sport or physical activity
• Swimming, aerobics/fitness, golf and tennis attracted the most participants (see below)
• Non-organised participation exceeded organised participation
• Swimming was the most reported non-organised activity
• The highest reported organised activity was aerobics/fitness
• Males had a higher participation rate than females (53 per cent compared with 43 per cent)
• Golf was the sport or activity most reported by males
• Swimming and aerobics/fitness were the most popular activities undertaken by females
• The most active State or Territory was the Australian Capital Territory at 64%, Western Australia 52%, Northern Territory & Queensland 51%, Tasmania 50%, Victoria 48%, South Australia & New South Wales 45%