That’s a dramatic decline from the early 1990s when the proportion was closer to one-half.
The report estimates that 7.3 million people, or about 28 per cent of the adult population, participated in some form of sport. That’s down from 8.3 million, or 34 per cent, in 1998, and 9.6 million, or 45 per cent, in 1992.
The decline was widespread, cutting across all age groups, education levels, income brackets, both sexes and almost all provinces. Teenagers aged 15 to 18 had the highest participation rate but that declined to 59 per cent in 2005 from 77 per cent in 1992.
The report notes, however, that the downward sports trend does not necessarily mean Canadians do not exercise. It says many participate regularly in exercise programs or classes, while others enjoy jogging, gardening or other solo activities.
And while active participation declined, the study found indirect involvement in sports on a voluntary basis actually increased. As well, an estimated 9.2 million adults were “involved” in amateur sports as spectators — a 20.3 per cent increase from 1998.
Golf replaced ice hockey as the most popular sport in Canada in 1998. Almost 1.5 million adult Canadians were golfers in 2005, three-quarters of them men. Ice hockey drew 1.3 million participants. Other sports in order of popularity:
- Swimming
- Soccer
- Basketball
- Baseball
- Volleyball
Higher income = higher participation
The higher the level of education and household income, the more likely a person was to participate actively in sport, the report found.
In 2005, 25 per cent of Canadians aged 15 and over with a high school diploma or less participated in sport. This compares with 30 per cent for those with a post-secondary diploma and 33 per cent for those with a university degree.
Sport participation increases as household income grows. In 2005, families with household incomes of $80,000 and over were twice as likely to participate in sport as those with household incomes of less than $30,000.
Household income was also a major determinant for children. In 2005, only 43 per cent of children from households with incomes of less than $40,000 were active in sport, as opposed to 65 per cent of those from households with incomes of over $80,000.
The report found that one of the many factors in declining participation in sports is Canada’s aging population. In 1992, people aged 35 and over represented 60 per cent of the adult population; about 36 per cent of them participated in sports. By 2005, 67 per cent of Canadians were in this age group, and their participation rate was down to 22 per cent.
“Thus, society is aging and becoming less active,” the report concludes.
Only 17 per cent of Canadians aged 55 and over participated in sports, well below the proportion of 25 per cent in 1992. Among older non-active Canadians aged 55 and over, 28 per cent indicated that age was the biggest factor.
Almost a quarter of them reported health conditions as the most important reason, while another quarter of this group cited lack of interest in sport.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080207/sports_080207/20080207?hub=CTVNewsAt11
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