The table illustrates the percentage of changes in the number of people participating in types sporting activities in Australia from 2001 to 2009.
Overall, the number of people taking part in Running, Aerobics, Tennis went up, while the opposite trend was true for Cycling and Swimming during the period shown. Furthermore, Running was the highest proportion change.
In 2001, 1,5 million Australian populations engaged in Aerobics, followed by Running and Tennis, with 1,4 million and 1 million respectively. However, after 8 years, the number of people joining in Running significantly increased and was the highest percentage change in various physical activities, while the figures for Aerobics and Tennis steadily rose, the rate of change in these two sporting were approximately one-tenth of the total change of Running, accounting for 11% of Aerobics and 15% of Tennis.
Regarding the remaining sports, in the year 2001, Cycling and Swimming were the most activities chosen by Australian residents, reaching 4,5 million and 3,7 million respectively. There was a considerable drop in the number of cyclists and swimmers after 8 years, decreasing from 4,5 million to 3,6 million for Cycling and from 3,7 million to 3,3 million for Swimming. Although Australia saw the largest percentage change in the number of people participating in Cycling and Swimming over the eight years, with -20% and -10% respectively, it was still the two most preferred sports, at 3.6 million participating in cycling and 3,3 million participating in swimming in 2009