The table offers valuable insights into the shifts in the number of Australians participating in various sports over an eight-year period, highlighting both increases and decreases across activities.
Remarkably, running enjoyed a surge in popularity, with its participants soaring from 1.4 to 2.2 million, marking an impressive 156% rise. Aerobics and tennis also saw growth, with aerobics nudging up to 1.7 million from 1.5 million, and tennis climbing from 1 to 1.2 million participants, corresponding to increases of 11% and 15%, respectively.
On the other hand, cycling’s popularity waned, with participants decreasing from 4.5 to 3.6 million, a 20% drop, despite it being the most popular activity in 2001. Similarly, swimming saw a downturn, dipping by 10% to 3.3 million participants from an initial 3.7 million.
In conclusion, the data indicates a shift in physical activity preferences among Australians between 2001 and 2009, with more people taking up running, while previously popular activities like cycling and swimming experienced declines in participation.
