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WHYISSPORTIMPORTANTTOAUSTRALIANSAustralianslovesport.Itisadeningcharacteristicofournationalcultureonethatisrecognisedacrosstheworld.InsportAustraliasdiversepopulationdiscoversasharedidentity.Wecometogethertoplaysportatlocalovalseldscourtsparksandbeaches.Weocktogreatstadiumsaroundthecountrytowatchthecontest.Wecelebrateandexudenationalpridewhenourathletesrepresentusontheworldstage.Thenumbersarecompelling.Approximately6.5millionAustraliansparticipateinorganisedsport4and7.6millionattendlivesportingeventseachyear.5Ninety-twopercentofadultAustralianshaveaninterestinatleastonesportandsixonaverage.6Importantly2.3millionpeoplevolunteertimeforsporteachyearthelargestvolunteergroupinthecountry.7WhetheritisforthefriendshipsthetnessthethrillofthecompetitionorthepureloveofthegamesportisimportanttoAustralians.AndsportisgoodforAustralians.Itmakesusahealthiernationbothphysicallyandmentally.Sportreducestheincidenceofchronicdiseaseincludingobesity-relatedillnessesdiabetesandcardiovasculardisease.8Physicalinactivityisawell-knownandgrowingprobleminAustraliawithover13000deathsattributedtoitannuallyandmorethan45000newcasesidentiedeachyear.9Recentresearchestimatesanancialbenetof434milliontotheeconomyifphysicalinactivitycouldbereducedby15percentby2018.10Sportalsohelpstobuildourcondenceandself-esteemandreducesourcrimerates.Ithelpsustodevelopstrongercommunitiesbridgesculturalboundariesandimprovesourinternationalrelations.Sportimprovesouracademicperformanceoursociallivesandcreatesanenvironmentwhereallareequal.SportisanimportanteconomicdriverinAustraliawithaworkforceofover2.4millionpeopleandgeneratingmorethan12.8billioninannualincome.11OFADULTAUSTRALIANSHAVEANINTERESTINATLEASTONESPORTANDSIXONAVERAGE92SPORTHASAWORKFORCEOF2.3MILLIONVOLUNTEERSAND100000PAIDWORKERSANDGENERATESMORETHANINANNUALINCOME12.8billionPlay.Sport.Australia.TheAustralianSportsCommissionsparticipationgameplan3