4. Lifelong - How do adults engage with sport through life?

Graph 4.1 shows the percentage of adults within each age group who participated in sport and physical activity within the previous four weeks in 2024-25.

A greater percentage of adults within age groups 16-24-years, 25-34-years, 35-44-years, and 45-54-years participated in sport and physical activity during the previous four weeks, compared to both the national average (59%) and to older age groups. Conversely, a lower percentage of adults participated amongst those aged 55-64-years, 65-74-years, and 75+ years when compared to the national average, and to younger age groups.  A similar trend was also found in 2021-22 and 2022-23.

Table 4.1 shows the number of adults who participated in sport and physical activity within the previous four weeks in 2024-25, alongside percentages.

Table 4.1: Participation in sport and physical activity in the previous four weeks by age 

4.2 Participation in sport and physical activity three or more times per week by age

Exploring this in more detail revealed that the percentage of adults who participated in sport and physical activity frequently (i.e. three or more times per week) also declined as the respondents’ age increased (Graph 4.2)

Graph 4.2: Participation in sport and physical activity three or more times per week by age

Graph 4.2 explores differences by age group for those who participated in sport and physical activity three or more times a week.

A greater percentage of adults aged 16-24-years, 25-34-years, and 35-44-years participated three or more times per week compared to the national average (35%), and to older age groups.  Conversely, a lower percentage of adults participated three or more times per week amongst those aged 65-74-years, and 75+ years when compared to the national average, and to younger age groups.  Adults who were 55-64 participated closest to the national average.

Table 4.2 shows the number of adults who participated in sport and physical activity three or more times a week in 2024-25 alongside these percentages.

Table 4.2: Participation in sport and physical activity three or more times per week by age

The findings from Sections 4.1 and 4.2 suggest that as adults move through different life stages, their level of participation in sport and physical activity tends to decline.  The next section explores some of the factors that might contribute to this decline.   It will also illustrate some of the different ways adults engage in sport beyond participation.

4.3 Reasons that encourage future participation

Adults [1] were asked what would encourage them to take part in more sport and physical activity.   

Adults could suggest multiple reasons that would encourage them to be more active. 31% suggested one reason, 33% suggested two or three reasons, and 36% provided more than three reasons that would encourage them to do more sport. The detailed results for 2024-25 are shown in Graph 4.3.

Graph 4.3: Reasons that encourage future participation [2]

In 2024-25, the reason mentioned most often was ‘If I was less busy with work’ (44%).   The percentage who mentioned ‘If there were more facilities, clubs or groups in my area’ was similarly large (41%).  ‘If it cost less’ was also one of the top three reasons.  A full breakdown is shown in Table 4.3.

Table 4.3: Reasons that encourage future participation

4.4 Sport and physical activity facilities

New questions about sport and physical activity facilities in the local area [3] that had been used within the last 12 months, were asked [4] in 2024-25.  

It was found that almost four in every ten adults in Wales (38%) had used a sport or physical activity facility in their local area within the last 12 months.   This equates to 658,000 people.  This also indicates that the 960,000 adults asked did not use these local facilities.

Of the 960,000 adults who had not used a local sport or physical activity facility in within the last 12 months, over a quarter (27%) had wanted to use the facility.

To explore this further, adults who had used or wanted to use local facilities within the last 12 months were asked a series of attitude statements linked to facility provision.   The results are presented below.

The level of agreement with the statement ‘I am able to get to the sport and physical activity facilities that I need.' is shown in Graph 4.4.

Graph 4.4: Agreement with the statement ‘I am able to get to the sport and physical activity facilities that I need.'

Graph 4.4 shows that over half strongly agreed with the statement (53%), with an additional 33% tending to agree.  The percentages of those who neither agreed or disagreed or disagreed were all much lower (each was close to 5% or below).  A full breakdown is available in Table 4.4.

Table 4.4: Agreement with the statement ‘I am able to get to the sport and physical activity facilities that I need.'

Next, the level of agreement with the statement ‘There are enough sport and physical activity facilities for me in my local area.’ is shown in Graph 4.5.

Graph 4.5: Agreement with the statement ‘There are enough sport and physical activity facilities for me in my local area.’

Graph 4.5 shows that opinion is more mixed, with that around a third strongly agreed with the statement (32%), with slightly more tending to agree (37%).  The percentage of those who neither agreed or disagreed, tended to disagree or strongly disagree were all lower (8%, 14% and 8% respectively).  A full breakdown is available in Table 4.5.

Table 4.5: Agreement with the statement ‘There are enough sport and physical activity facilities for me in my local area.’

Although most adults agreed ‘There are enough sport and physical activity facilities for me in my local area.’  there were slightly more who disagreed with this statement (Graph 4.5) when compared to the previous statement (see Graph 4.4), meaning there is somewhat of a discrepancy in there being enough and being able to get to the facilities that were needed to be active.

One reason for the difference could be due the omission of ‘local area’ in the statement ‘I am able to get to the sport and physical activity facilities that I need.' and as a result, could indicate that some are travelling beyond their local area to access the facilities they need if there are not enough in their local area.

Next was an assessment of the level of agreement with the statement ‘The sport and physical activity facilities in my local area are high quality.’ (Graph 4.6).

Graph 4.6: Agreement with the statement: ‘The sport and physical activity facilities in my local area are high quality.’

Graph 4.6 shows that around a quarter agreed strongly with this statement (26%), with more tending to agree (39%).  The percentage of those who neither agreed or disagreed, tended to disagree or strongly disagree were all lower (16%, 10% and 6% respectively).  A full breakdown is available in Table 4.6.

Table 4.6: Agreement with the statement ‘The sport and physical activity facilities in my local area are high quality.’

Finally, the level of agreement with the statement ‘The sport and physical activity facilities in my local area are affordable for me’ is shown in Graph 4.7.

Graph 4.7: Agreement with the statement: ‘The sport and physical activity facilities in my local area are affordable for me.’

Graph 4.7 shows that just over a third agreed strongly with this statement (35%), with similar levels tending to agree (36%).  The percentage of those who neither agreed or disagreed, tended to disagree or strongly disagree were all lower (12%, 10% and 4% respectively).  A full breakdown is available in Table 4.7.

Table 4.7: Agreement with the statement ‘The sport and physical activity facilities in my local area are affordable for me.’

The patterns shown in the results for statements about quality (Graph 4.6) and affordability (Graph 4.7) were broadly similar, with slightly more positive sentiment towards affordability, suggesting quality and affordability are not necessarily related in a straightforward way (i.e., better-quality facilities are less affordable).  

Overall, these findings suggest that most adults who access sport and physical activity facilities can get to those that they need.  In addition, most think there are enough in their local areas and that those available are regarded as high quality and affordable.  However, this should not mask that most adults do not participate frequently, do not have demand to do more, and had not used, or indeed wanted to use, local sports facilities in the last 12 months.  

Nevertheless, these findings can be considered alongside Section 4.3 where it was found that 41% would participate more if there were more facilities, clubs or groups in their local area, 24% would participate more if it was easier to travel to clubs/facilities/groups and 15% would be able to do more if there were facilities, clubs or groups that met their accessibility needs.  

In addition, it should be noted that ‘if it cost less’ was one of the top three reasons that would encourage adults to do more, mentioned by 307,000 adults, yet only 126,000 adults disagreed that sport and physical activity facilities in their local area are affordable.   

The next sections describe more ways adults can be active through sport.

4.5 Volunteering in sport

Just under one in ten adults (9%) gave up their time for free to help with a sporting activity in the last 12 months.  This equates to 213,000 adults who had volunteered in sport.  

Table 4.8: Volunteering in Sport

The percentage of adults who had volunteered in sport in 2024-25 is in line with findings from 2019-20 and 2016-17 (when volunteering in sport was found to be 10%).

To put the level of volunteering in sport in context, we also know that around a third (32%) of adults in Wales were volunteers, in general, in 2024-25 (725,000 people).  These adults volunteer in a wide variety of ways, and not all volunteers will support sport. However, of those who volunteer, volunteering for a sports club was the second most common type of volunteering activity, second to volunteering for a charitable organisation.  

Volunteering at a sports club is just one of the settings within which adults volunteer in sport.  Most volunteered at a sports club (66%), but adults also volunteered at a school or young person’s group (18%), and at other locations (20%) during the last 12 months (Table 4.9).  

Table 4.9: Volunteering in Sport

These were multiple ways in which volunteers in sport provide their time for free at these locations. The multiple ways in which adults volunteer in sport are illustrated in Graph 4.8.  

Graph 4.8: Volunteering in sport by type of volunteering

Around half of volunteers in sport help with at least one of these activities (52%).   An additional 21% volunteer time for two of these activities, and the remaining 27% of volunteered in three or more of these activities.  

Fundraising and Coaching are the most common ways in which adults volunteered in sport, and around 4 in 10 of those who volunteered in sport had provided time for at least one of these activities in the last 12 months.  A full breakdown is available in Table 4.10.

Table 4.10: Volunteering in sport by type of volunteering

Some adults are also paid for their roles in sport.  Specifically in relation to coaching, 2% of all adults are paid to coach as part of their job (38,000 people).  In addition, 82% of those who volunteer in coaching also have a paid coaching role; and so are paid for coaching but also give up their time for free for to coach.

The amount of time that was provided for volunteering in sport varied by volunteer, but most volunteered on a regular basis (Table 4.11).

Table 4.11: Frequency of volunteering in sport 

Those who volunteered in sport within the last 4-weeks provided approximately 6 to 7 hours of volunteer time.

4.6 Sport Spectating

Some adults are involved in sport simply through going to watch it in person.  In 2024-25, well over a third of adults (37%) had attended at least one sport event as a spectator in the last 12 months. This equates to 907,000 adults.  

Of those spectators, there was a broadly even split between those who had attended once or twice in the last 12 months (37%; 343,000), those who attended three or four times (30%; 272,000 adults), and those who attended more frequently (32% attended once a month or more; 289,000 adults).

In addition, the vast majority (85%; 778,000 adults) had attended a sport event in Wales.  There were 127,000 people who had only attended events outside Wales.

Footnotes

1. This question was only asked to those who participated or had demand (69% of adults; 1,708,000 adults).  As a result, 31% (778,000 adults) were not asked this question.
2. A small percentage (less than 5%) of adults spontaneously said they already do enough exercise / were not interested / were currently injured or pregnant / felt too old / had health issues / did not know and did not select a reason.    This is in addition to those who stated ‘other’ as a reason.
3. If needed a local area was defined as an ‘area within one mile or 15 to 20 minutes walking distance from your home’
4. This question was only asked to those who participated or had demand (69% of adults; 1,708,000 adults).  As a result, 31% (778,000 adults) were not asked this question.