YouGov survey looks into how much sport Australians play versus how much they watch it

With the Commonwealth Games now over for another four years, market research and data analytics firm YouGov looked into how much sport Australians play versus how much they watch it.

YouGov were interested in whether watching sport on TV inspires Australians to “get up off the couch and head for the sporting field instead.”

While the survey revealed that 77% of Australians are sports fans, the vast majority of these (66%) actually watch less than five hours of sports per week. 

As of this year, the Commonwealth Games came in as the most popular sport to watch (71%), closely followed by the Australian Open (62%), Wimbledon (58%), AFL (57%) and men’s State of Origin (50%).

However, results showed that just because Australians like to watch sport, this doesn’t mean they like to play it quite so much. 25% of sports fans in Australia do not work out at all. 32% of sports fans work out, but only their own; and only 28% of sports fans go to the gym at least once a month.

The main motivation for gym-goers? 26% want to get or stay healthy. 27% want to lose weight or tone up. 11% of people say they attend the gym in order to give them access to equipment that they don’t have at home.

The survey was carried out through YouGov Direct. Learn more at YouGov Direct. 

Image: The Australia national netball team, Australian Diamonds: Credit: Commonwealth Games Australia