A sports economics report released on Sept. 5 revealed that participating in sports and exercise saved the Australian public health system over $320 million annually. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), $1.2 billion was spent on injuries resulting from physical activity, and an additional $149 million was spent on osteoarthritis caused by previous physical activity-related injuries. However, despite these costs, sport and physical activity still provided a net saving of $321 million to the Australian health system in the year 2018-19. Dr. Heather Swanston, a spokesperson for AIHW, emphasized the physical and psychological benefits of physical activity, which can reduce the need for medical treatment.
On the other hand, AIHW estimated that physical inactivity resulted in approximately $2.4 billion in health expenditures in 2018-19. However, Dr. Swanston pointed out that the cost would have been $1.7 billion higher if it weren’t for the health benefits derived from current levels of physical activity, including sport, in Australia.
The report from the AIHW titled “Economics of sport and physical activity participation and injury,” commissioned by the Australian Sports Commission, highlighted the significant financial savings achieved through physical activity. It revealed that physical activity prevented spending of $1.7 billion on disease prevention alone in 2018-19. This includes similar benefits for males and females, with around $190 million attributed to reduced blood pressure and associated diseases. Physical activity also contributed to savings in various other areas, such as falls, depression, anxiety, coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation and flutter, stroke, cataract, peripheral vascular disease, and hip fracture.
The ASC CEO, Kieren Perkins, emphasized the importance of instilling a love for physical activity in children early on, as it leads to long-term physical benefits. However, recent data has shown that sports injury hospitalizations have returned to pre-COVID trends, with 66,500 Australians being admitted to the hospital for sports-related injuries in 2020-21. Cycling accounted for the highest number of sports-related injury hospitalizations, with 9,800 cases. Dr. Swanston explained that these numbers rebounded to pre-pandemic levels after a decline caused by COVID-19 lockdowns and cancellations of sporting activities in 2019-20.
The ASC expressed concern regarding the declining levels of physical activity among children. Two-thirds of children in Australia do not meet the physical activity guidelines, and one in four children are overweight or obese, which negatively impacts long-term health outcomes. To address this issue, the ASC launched an online course for primary school teachers to deliver engaging physical education sessions and encourage sports participation. They believe that playing sports during childhood is crucial for developing a lifelong habit of physical activity.
Teachers and schools play a critical role in modeling behaviors and creating accessible sporting environments. However, low-income households have less access to sports opportunities for both adults and children. The ASC emphasized the importance of making sports accessible and affordable for everyone, as sport options in the schoolyard are vital. They believe that the school sports system plays a central role in building children’s lifelong connection with sports and can educate, motivate, and inspire a generation of students.