Record number of people in England playing sport regularly

What with the Globe Cup now underway and the Wimbledon tennis championships about to begin next week, sport is on the brain for numerous men and women across the country. But how several people really engage in the physical activities themselves?

Sport England aims to reply this query in its bi-yearly Lively People survey. Because 2005, the non-departmental public entire body under the Division for Culture, Media and Sport has been asking people in England about their sport participation.

The survey is the greatest of its kind, sampling far more than 165,000, and contains these aged over 14 (prior to 2012, the survey only incorporated people aged over 16).

In accordance to the latest information release covering April 2013 to April 2014, the variety of above-16s taking part in sport after a week, each week has risen to a record 15.6m – 1.7m a lot more than in 2005.

In the most lively nearby authorities – Hart, Richmond upon Thames, St Albans, Corby and Tunbridge Wells – about half of the individuals participate regularly in sports activities.

A lot more than 2.9m people are swimming frequently, generating it the most well-known sport in England by far. Football, athletics or cycling are element of the weekly regimen for about five out of one hundred people in England – a slight increase since last 12 months.

Importantly the variation for these ‘big sports’ between this and last year’s survey is even smaller sized than the seasonal variation in sport participation, which you can explore on the Sport England interactive tool.

Fencing, canoeing and staff sports activities such as rounders, netball and rugby union – still only played by a minority – actually acquired most in acceptance.

But there is a big gap among guys and ladies. While in excess of forty% of men exercise frequently, only 31% of ladies do. Nonetheless, the gender gap has not changed much since the Active Folks survey in 2012/13.

Jennie Price, chief executive of Sport England mentioned:

There is a lot more to do, which includes closing the unacceptable gap in participation amongst youthful males and young girls…this will be an critical focus for Sport England above the subsequent twelve months

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• Source: Sport England

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Record number of people in England playing sport regularly