Sport in Australia

Not sure about what to do in Australia ? Try some sports !!

Australia is a sporting nation and as part of the Commonwealth, it has many simular games and sports as we do here in Europe and particularly in U.K.And why are Auzzies that dependent on sports ? That is the object of this report.
A generally temperate climate, relatively low-cost access to tennis courts, golf courses and other sporting facilities, and the presence of beaches and waterways, open spaces and bushland, encourage Australians to take up outdoor activities as part of their lifestyle.
Australia has more than 120 national sporting organisations and thousands of State, regional and club bodies. It is estimated that 6.5 million people, about a third of the population, are registered sports participants.
Many more are involved in activities such as fishing, bushwalking, recreational boating, horse riding and fitness programs. Water sports have a huge following and the high interest in sailing is reflected in Australia’s entry in every America’s Cup challenge since 1967. In September 1983 Australia II became the first foreign yacht to win the cup held by the US since 1851.
Australians are also enthusiastic sports watchers. Crowds of more than 100 000 are common in Melbourne for the grand final of the Australian Football competition.
Australia was the host nation of the Olympic Games for the second time in less than 50 years when the Games were held in Sydney in 2000. The 2000 Paralympics had also been staged in Sydney. The 1956 Olympic Games were held in Melbourne, and Australia has been the host nation for three Commonwealth Games, in Sydney (1938), Perth (1962) and Brisbane (1982). Australia is one of only three nations to have competed at every modern Olympic Games and has been represented at all 13 Commonwealth Games.
Australians have won 78 Olympic and 396 Commonwealth gold medals. In Olympic Games held between 1948 and 1992, women won more than 40 per cent of the gold medals won by Australians - a remarkable achievement since only 23 per cent of events at the Games were available to women.
Australia has produced international champions and world record holders in many sports.
The Australian Sports Commission, a statutory authority funded by the Australian Government, was established in 1984. The commission has primary responsibility for the Government’s efforts on behalf of sport at both the elite and community and participation levels. The Women in Sport unit in the commission aims to raise the participation and status of women and girls in all aspects of sport in Australia.
Government backing and a spectacular rise in commercial sponsorship have been significant changes in sports financing in the past 10 years. The Australian Government’s allocation to sport and recreation in 1993-94 is $96.2 million. More than $293 million is being provided to sport and recreation over the four-year period 1992-93 to 1995-96