How Australians describe sport

Research by ORIMA for the Australian Sports Commission in 2022 found that generally people had a personal interpretation of what they considered sport, and in particular ‘organised sport’. ⁶

Activities were more likely to be recognised as ‘sport’ if they were traditional sports, professional sports visible on TV, or at the Olympics – especially by those who weren’t very engaged in sport. Other factors that individuals considered were the degree of physical exertion and skill required. At an individual level, people in the study put more emphasis on defining what ‘organised’ meant than on what ‘sport’ did – leaving it up individuals what they would consider to be a sport. ⁶

Difference between ‘sport’ and ‘physical activity’

The degree of organisational structure that surrounds and influences a physical activity usually helps to distinguish whether an activity is classified as ‘sport’, ‘active recreation’, ‘physical activity’, ‘exercise’, or any number of other terms. ^{5, 6, 10}

Sport activities are usually structured so that one or more of these conditions are satisfied: ⁶

1. Individual or team performance is compared to another individual/team; or one’s own performance is compared to a past performance or a recognised standard (i.e., benchmark).
2. Performances are achieved under known circumstances; rules are used as standards (i.e., how the activity is conducted, time and space limitations, use of equipment, etc.).
3. A recognised organisational structure oversees the process. Typically, organisations determine the rules, determine what an outcome means, record and compare results, and oversee the overall organisation and delivery of the activity.

These conditions add a sense of formality or structure to ‘sport’ that may not be present in other forms of ‘similar looking’ activities, such as active recreation or exercise.

For example, a group of people who meet in a common place (e.g., park, sports field, or backyard) and play a game of football would be engaged in 'social sport'. 'Social' because the element of organisational supervision is minimal, but 'sport' because the elements of competition (of a friendly nature) and rules are present. If the same group of individuals were registered in a football club and trained/played in an organised and structured competition under the supervision of a referee; they would be engaged in 'organised sport'. In each case the individuals may perform the same skills, produce the same physical exertion, and may realise the same personal benefits (health, fitness, personal satisfaction, etc.).