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Over half the adult population in Northern Ireland participating in sport
Around 53% of the population aged 16+, participated in sport in 2006/2007 and 54% were satisfied with sport provision in Northern Ireland.
Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure [NI] - 16/03/2008
The findings are taken from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency’s Continuous Household Survey published today in a Research and Statistics Bulletin by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
Commenting on the results, Sports Minister, Edwin Poots, MLA, said: “Although over half the adult population are getting involved in sport and over half are satisfied with sports provision on offer in Northern Ireland, evidence suggests that participation rates are amongst the lowest in the UK and falling.
“I will shortly be launching a new 10-year Sport and Physical Recreation Strategy for Northern Ireland. The strategy aims to promote and increase participation among under-represented groups as well as promoting the value, importance and priority of sport and physical recreation more generally.’’
The minister continued: “I want to see the creation of a sporting culture in Northern Ireland where people have the chance to play, compete, spectate and volunteer in sport on a regular basis regardless of their age, gender, disability, ethnic or social background.”
The minister said that the statistics gathered in the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency’s Continuous Household Survey would also be used to monitor progress against DCAL’s recently published Public Service Agreement.
The findings highlight that in 2006/2007 participation was highest amongst those working in professional occupations (78%) and people aged 16-29 years (77%).
