Exploring the current trends in sport and active leisure participation

Identifying Current Trends in Sport and Active Leisure Participation

Rise in Health Consciousness

  • The importance of physical fitness and well-being is being increasingly recognised.
  • There’s a growing understanding that regular physical exercise helps reduce risk of various health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
  • This rising health consciousness is translating into greater interest and participation in sports and active leisure activities.

Popularity of Fitness and Exercise Apps

  • Digital technology and online platforms are transforming the way people engage with sports and fitness activities.
  • From tracking running distance to online yoga classes, digital platforms are helping more people stay active in a convenient and personalised way.

Emergence of New Sports and Fitness Trends

  • The sporting landscape is continuously evolving with emergence of new sports, fitness trends or variations of existing sports.
  • Examples include esports, boutique fitness studios and obstacle course racing.
  • These new trends are not only attracting new participants but also contributing to the diversification of the sport and active leisure industry.

Rising Popularity of Extreme and Adventure Sports

  • Sports like rock climbing, skateboarding, and surfing are seeing a surge in popularity.
  • These sports are especially popular among the young population seeking thrilling and unique experiences.
  • Introduction of some of these sports in international competitions like the Olympics is also endorsing their mainstream acceptance.

Increasing Girls’ and Women’s Participation

  • Efforts to promote gender equality are seeing positive results with more girls and women than ever participating in sports.
  • Successful campaigns like “This Girl Can” are inspiring more females to challenge stereotypes and get involved in male-dominated sports.

Growth of Paralympic and Disability Sports

  • Societal attitudes towards disability are evolving. There’s an increasing recognition of the rights and abilities of disabled individuals.
  • This is reflected in the growing popularity of Paralympic sports and greater participation of individuals with disabilities in various sports and active leisure activities.

Sport and Social Intervention

  • Using sport as a tool for social intervention is a growing trend.
  • From using football to engage at-risk youth to promoting mental health through exercise, sport is being utilised as an effective tool to tackle various social issues.