It's almost the London Olympics and the magic of the Olympics is not so much about the well trodden paths of sports we know and love, it is the chance to cheer on the South Korean champion against his nemesis in the little known handball. So what sports do we love, or love to participate in, and what should be looking to love?

The Top Stuff

The popularity of sports, exercise and recreation activities are continually changing but given the results of a recent study by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2010) it would appear that of all sports or physical recreation activities, good old-fashioned walking for exercise had the highest level of participation (23%). Aerobics, fitness or gym came in second (14%), while swimming (7.4%), cycling (6.5%) and jogging or running (6.5%) made up the balance of the top 5. The rest of the top 10 included cycling, golf, tennis, netball, bushwalking & soccer.  Always be wary of reports of  the “fastest growing” sports. Depending on who conducted the study and/or the mathematical model they are using, it is possible that La Crosse or kayaking are our fastest growing sports. Interestingly the same report concluded that cross country skiing, wresting and aerobics were in the top 5. I think someone may have been sitting on this report for about 25 years.  Zumba and Yoga are on the way up….but are they (or do they need to be) our top sports?

Ups and Downs

Interestingly, participation in sport and recreation seems to follow particular patterns of projected wealth. What this means is that parents and/or schools (either knowingly or subconsciously) encourage youth to participate in sporting activities that present wealth opportunities either for the individual or the organisation. Football in all its forms maintains a strong following for this very reason, including a growing participation by females. The time lag in these programs can result in kids focusing or being focused on a sport that ends up being largely ignored by the time they graduate. But should it matter?  This may also help to explain why tennis participation for youths is growing, but golf is declining – or could it be simply access and affordability of these sports for the masses.  Participation in volleyball and rugby is still high – but not really growing.  Zumba and yoga currently have strong participation rates but I’m not sure they will be here for the long haul (anybody remember the Macarena) What is perhaps most interesting is the health clubs serving a very body-conscious nation are actually starting to report a tapering of memberships and attendance. Most alarming is the recording and inclusion of fantasy sports like poker tournaments, online betting and cyber sports betting in the same reports. While I don’t personally care for any of these I believe it is insane to even merit mention of them in studies of ‘activity’.

Sports To Watch at the Olympics

Forget athletics and swimming, it’s time to brush up on a whole new range of sports.  My pics include archery, badminton, beach volleyball (go Nat!), canoeing, BMX cycling (yah for Nicole for finally making the BMX bandits cool again), fencing. Rhythmic Gymnastics, Equestrian (I just love the toffy English accents).  Women’s boxing makes its first foray into the Olympics (uggghh), Synchronised Swimming, Table Tennis and of course  trampolining and wresting (I know keep it clean).  It is going to be endless hours of TV and I for one will be loving it. Keep an eye out for my new Synchronised Swimming moves at a pool near you.