Investment in Sport
Perceived value of government investment in sport.
In 2024/25, respondents were most likely to believe Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes and teams deserved government investment. Views were more positive than in 2023/24, likely influenced by the Olympic / Paralympic year. Both organised and casual sport and physical activity were also considered highly worthy of investment.
International professional athletes and Australian professional sporting codes were seen as comparatively less deserving of government funding
Worthiness of government investment
Definition of sport categories
- Casual sport and physical activity – Unstructured sport or physical activity that you can do at any time or place during the day, by yourself or with family/friends (for example, jogging, walking the dog, going to the gym, playing cricket in the park).
- Organised sport and physical activity – Structured organised sport ranging from A-grade club sport through to more social and junior sport, as well as all the types of organised physical activity that people do (for example, boot camp, gym or dance classes).
- Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games (OPC athletes) – Athletes who represent Australia at these events, held every four years.
- Other Australian national athletes and teams – Athletes competing as Australia in international sport at World Championships, World Cups (excluding the Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games).
- International professional athletes – Australian athletes playing professional sport around the globe (as an individual athlete or as part of a team) in competitions and events that include international events, but they do not compete as Australia.
- Australian professional sporting codes – All the codes of sport within Australia where athletes are paid, at least to some extent, to play (for example, AFL, AFLW, NRL, NBL, WNBL).
Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes and teams - 83% - 2023/24: 79% - 2022/23: 80% - 2021/22: 81% - 2020/21: 80% - 2019/20: 83%
Casual sport and physical activity - 80% - 2023/24: 80% - 2022/23: 82% - 2021/22: 81% - 2020/21: 79% - 2019/20: 81%
Organised sport and physical activity - 80% - 2023/24: 78% - 2022/23: 78% - 2021/22: 74% - 2020/21: 76% - 2019/20: 80%
Other Australian national athletes and teams - 77% - 2023/24: 78% - 2022/23: 72% - 2021/22: 79% - 2020/21: 73% - 2019/20: 74%
Australian professional sporting codes - 69% - 2023/24: 68% - 2022/23: 65% - 2021/22: 63% - 2020/21: 63% - 2019/20: 63%
International professional athletes - 68% - 2023/24: 71% - 2022/23: 69% - 2021/22: 67% - 2020/21: 64% - 2019/20: 69%
