A total of 4.5 million people aged 15 years and over (26%) were involved in organised sport or physical activity during the 12 months prior to April 2010, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Around 3.8 million were involved in a playing role, 1.6 million in a non-playing role with 868,700 involved in both roles.

People between the ages of 15 to 24 years had the highest playing participation rate (38%) and overall participation rate (39%) while people aged 35 to 44 had the highest participation rate in non-playing roles (15%).

The survey found that:

• Men had a higher participation rate in both playing roles (24%) and non-playing roles (10%) than women (20% and 8% respectively).
• More women (65%) were involved with school or junior sport than men (55%).
• 9% of people involved received some form of payment.
• People involved as a coach, instructor or teacher were more likely to receive some form of payment (27%) than those in a playing role (3%).

Of the 1.6 million people involved in non-playing roles:

• 643,300 (41%) were involved as a coach, instructor or teacher.
• 313,000 (20%) were involved as a referee or umpire.
• 526,600 (34%) were involved as a committee member or administrator.
• 481,100 (31%) were involved as a scorer or timekeeper.
• 118,200 (8%) were involved as a provider of medical support.
• 928,800 (60%) were associated with school or junior sport.
• 445,900 (29%) had two or more non-playing roles.
• 634,300 (41%) had completed a qualification relevant to their role.

Further details can be found in Involvement in Organised Sport and Physical Activity, Australia (cat. no. 6285.0), available for free download from the ABS website - www.abs.gov.au.

Media note: When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.