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Participation in exercise, recreation and sport in NSW, 2001

All sport and physical activity:

  • 3,971,400 people (just under 4 million) participated in sport and physical activity in 2001
  • this was a participation rate of 77.9% (more than three-quarters of every person aged 15 and over participated in sport or physical in the 12 months in 2001)

NSW had the 4th highest participation rate behind ACT (88.3%), WA (81.0%) and NT (80.5%). NSW was ahead of Vic (77.4%), Qld (77.3%), Tas (77.2%) and SA (74.7%).

Top sports/physical activities in NSW were:

  1. Walking (other than bushwalking)
  2. Swimming
  3. Aerobics/fitness
  4. Tennis
  5. Golf
  6. Cycling
  7. Running
  8. Bushwalking
  9. Soccer (outdoor)
  10. Touch football

Participation decreases with age:

  • 15 - 24 years - 91.3%
  • 25 - 34 years - 86.6%
  • 35 - 44 years - 80.0%
  • 45 - 54 years - 74.2%
  • 55 - 64 years - 68.8%
  • 65 years and over - 60.5%

More males participate than females - 80.3% for all males aged 15 and over compared to 75.6% females

Organised sport in NSW:

  • 1,972,300 people participated in organised sport in 2001
  • this was a participation rate of 38.7%

NSW was last out of all states and territories with NT (44.9%) and ACT (43.2%) first and second, Tas (42.7%) and WA (42.2%) 3rd and 4th, followed by Vic (40.4%), SA (40.2%) and Qld (39.4%).