New data from Sport Australia has revealed that Australians are proud of and inspired by Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes.
Chief Executive of Sport Australia, Rob Dalton said the Organisation’s latest AusPlay Report focused on participation in Summer Olympic and Paralympic sports.
Mr Dalton said the Report found more than half of all Australians aged 15 or over (10.4 million) participated in some form of Olympic sport in the past year and 1.8 million volunteered in Olympic sports.
“The Report includes AusPlay data which identifies sport and physical activity habits across Australia, and Sport Australia’s other survey tool, the Community Perceptions Monitor, which captures public attitudes towards sport,” Mr Dalton said.
“Australians who love to play and watch sport say they are extremely proud of our Olympians and Paralympians, with 32 per cent of Australians surveyed who said they are not interested in sport also admitting our Olympians and Paralympians make them feel proud,” he said.
“The results show the Olympics and Paralympics impact us all, whether it’s playing a sport, volunteering or being inspired watching our Olympians and Paralympians compete.”
Mr Dalton said just over seven million Australians participated in athletics, swimming or cycling each year, which made them the most popular Olympic sports.
He said athletics, including running/jogging, was the most popular sport for men while swimming was the most popular sport for women.
“When it comes to Olympic team sports, football/soccer and basketball are played the most,” he said.
Mr Dalton said around four in five adults with long-term disability also participated in sport or physical activity, with swimming, cycling and athletics coming in as the top three Paralympic sports.
Minister for Sport, Senator Richard Colbeck said the Sport Australia Report also found that four in five adults (79 per cent) felt pride for Australia’s Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes and seven in 10 (72 per cent) said they could be inspired by their achievements.
Sport Australia’s 47-page Report can be accessed at this PS News link.
