The amount spent by Australians to play sport and keep fit is rising, as nine million rely on free activities in order to stay healthy.
Expenditure by Australian adults on their sport and exercise climbed to $12.5 billion in 2022, an increase of more than $2 billion on 2021, according to figures released today by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC).
This figure covers only fees paid to an organisation or venue to participate and does not include other costs, such as equipment or travel.
Around a quarter of Australians' spending is on gym or fitness sessions according to the analysis of 20,000 responses to the annual AusPlay survey.
ASC chief executive Kieren Perkins said that, despite cost-of-living pressures, Australians continue to invest in their health.
“Adults paid $634 on sport or physical activity last year, compared to $600 in 2020, while for children this figure was $650 in 2022, and $600 in 2020,” Perkins said.
“It’s clear that Australians see the value of sport and continue to invest in it as they recognise the benefits an active lifestyle offers.”
Close to $4 billion was spent on children's sport and exercise in 2022.
Return to sport
Victoria University professor of sport participation Rochelle Eime said it was reassuring that most Australians have returned to their sporting habits following the pandemic.
"I think it's great that we're able to be back and active, but obviously there's a cost to participate," Professor Eime said.
"Some sports and physical activities are relatively cheap, but some are really quite expensive."
After fitness-gym classes, golf and swimming attracted the next-highest amount of spending, with more than $1 billion outlaid by Australians on these hobbies each year.
Soccer was the team sport that attracted the largest expenditure, at $448 million dollars.
“More than nine million participants told us they walk for exercise, with running, jogging, cycling, swimming, playing football [or] soccer with friends, and surfing the most-popular free, sport-related activities Australians took part in," Perkins said.
Professor Eime said variations in age, gender and location had an impact on who was spending and on what.
"A lot of older adults tend to walk, or go for a cycle, which are free, but children generally participate in a lot of organised sport after school — over 60 per cent," she said.
"You can't really tell your children to go for a walk around the block."
Professor Eime's research released recently found a decline in the number of women playing sport in 2021 as the pandemic eased.
Even as male participation rose, 22,000 fewer women played sport in 2021, compared to 2019.
The gender split is the subject of further work at Victoria University.
"In terms of the early sport adopters, young girls sometimes lack the physically literacy or confidence and competence to go and play. And, if they haven't been able to learn those skills during lockdown, they're less likely to rock up to sport," Professor Eime explained.
The ASC also found 3.5 million Australian adults were injured playing sport or undertaking physical activity in the past 12 months.
That rate of injury was greatest among participants of outdoor team sports.
