A sporting nation

Australians play sport, watch sport, bet on sport and talk sport more than anything else.

For example, in Melbourne it is common for people to identify themselves by the (Australian Rulesfootball club they support. Such sporting fervour is not quite so obvious everywhere, but sport is rarely far from anyone's thoughts.

It is not surprising that sport should play such a large part in Australian life.

The excellent climate, outstanding natural opportunities, adequate leisure time and a healthy population provide the perfect opportunity for sporting activity.

As well as that, Australians have a well-known gambling streak which makes spectator sports like horse racing very popular.

Getting involved
There can be few countries in the world where you can take part in such a variety of sports, at almost any time of the year. Golf courses are everywhere and very affordable, and many people play tennis and bowls.

Popular team sports include soccer, the other football codes and of course cricket, in which Australia is arguably the best in the world. Baseball is beginning to catch on as an amateur sport, and basketball and netball are already very well supported.

The mountains of Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania offer snow skiing in winter and horse riding in summer. The beaches provide swimming, surfing, wind-surfing, scuba diving and paragliding; rivers and harbours offer sailing, water skiing and more swimming.

Jogging is popular, and there are great tracks around Sydney Harbour, Melbourne's Botanic Gardens and equivalent paths in other cities. Bushwalking is popular and healthy.

One result of Australians' preoccupation with sports is the large number of world champions and record holders the country can claim.

Australians excel internationally in sports like golf, tennis, hockey, swimming, athletics, football (in several codes) and various forms of motorcycle racing. The year 2000 was a particularly good year for sport in Australia with Sydney holding the Olympic Games.

In October & November 2003, 20 national rugby teams will contest the finals of the Rugby World Cup, the teams have qualified during the past year to play in the finals, which are broken up into 4 pools of five teams each, the early rounds are to be played at stadiums all round the country, the finals will be played at Sydney's Telstra Stadium (formerly the Olympic Stadium).

Water sports
For some reason Australians seem to excel at water sports, perhaps it is because our continent is surround by water. We have several World Champions in diving, rowing, sailing, swimming, surfing, water skiing and windsurfing.

Layne Beachley has just won the womenÕs world surfing title for the sixth year in a row.

Do you like to watch?
Australian horses, trainers and jockeys are renowned world wide, with our expertise being imported by China to set up the horse racing industry there.

And the national men's and women's basketball teams are competing with the world's best despite the fact that this sport is fairly new to Australia.

The country hosts several world standard sporting events such as the Australian Open Tennis Championships, a leg of tennis's 'Grand Slam', motor racing fixtures such as the Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne and the Moto GP Motorcycle and Super Bike Grand Prixs' held at Philip Island. As well as golf tournaments, swimming and surfing carnivals plus many more.

Whether your choice of sport is individual or team, competitive or for relaxation, Australia will cater to your wishes. Involvement in sport is also a great way to meet people and to make business contacts.