How Covid has rekindled Australia’s love of the Olympics

The 12-month postponement of the Tokyo Games has only increased the sense of anticipation ahead of the world’s biggest multi-sports event, a new report reveals.

So much for COVID killing Australia’s love of Olympic and Paralympic sports.

Instead of diminishing interest, the 12-month postponement of the Tokyo Games has only increased the sense of anticipation ahead of the world’s biggest multi-sports event, taking place later this year.

According to the latest AusPlay report, Australia’s respect and pride for our Olympians and Paralympians has gone through the roof during the global pandemic – with an unexpected spin-off for national health.

It turns out that imitation really has become the sincerest form of flattery with record numbers of Aussies getting off their lounges during the lockdown and taking up Olympic sports.

More than half of all Australians aged 15 or over (10.4 million) have participated in some form of Olympic sport during the pandemic while four in five adult Aussies (79 per cent) say they are proud and inspired by our Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes and teams.

“The AusPlay report shows just how much sport remains a linchpin in the lives of everyday Australians,” Federal Minister Sport Richard Colbeck said.

“Whether we are aiming to improve our own health and wellbeing or are determined to ensure others have that opportunity – sport is key to healthy communities across the nation.”

Australia’s Chloe Esposito on her way to gold in the modern pentathlon in Rio.

The survey showed that athletics, swimming and cycling remain Australia’s most popular Olympic sports – with more than seven million participants. The most popular sport for women is swimming. For men, it’s running,

Soccer and basketball are the most popular Olympic team sports, the survey found, with interest expected to soar with success in Tokyo.

While Australia’s women’s basketballers are regular Olympic medallists, the NBA-stacked Boomers have never made it to the podium in hoops, while neither of our men’s or women’s soccer teams have won Olympic medals — yet.

The survey revealed that around four in five adults with long-term disability also participate in some kind of sport or physical activity at least once a year while the top three Paralympic sports are the same as Olympic sports with swimming the most popular, followed by cycling and athletics.

Australia’s Paralympic gold medallist Ellie Cole.

While no one is sure what’s going to happen in Tokyo this year, all the early expectations point to an increased medal haul for Australian athletes that will lay the foundations for a new golden decade of sporting success with Brisbane in the box seat to be awarded the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.

“Whether it’s playing an Olympic or Paralympic sport at any level, volunteering or being inspired watching our athletes compete on the world stage, the Olympics and Paralympics impact us all in one way or another,” Sport Australia’s acting chief executive Rob Dalton said.

Originally published as How Covid has rekindled Australia’s love of the Olympics