Lyla Lindsey
Australians are known for their love of sports and outdoor activities. Cricket and Australian rules football are the country's national sports, with other popular sports including rugby league, soccer, basketball, and motor racing. Australia has a strong gaming industry, with four out of five Australians playing video games. Popular Australian-made video games include Untitled Goose Game, Hollow Knight, and Crossy Road. On Australia Day, it is common to play casual outdoor games like cricket, frisbee, and football, as well as indoor board or card games.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of the population that plays video games | 81% |
| Average age of video game players | 35 |
| Gender of gamers | 48% female, 52% male |
| Types of games played | Puzzle games preferred over action games |
| Devices used to play video games | 94% of households have at least one device |
| National sports | Cricket and Australian rules football |
| Most popular sport | Australian rules football |
| Other popular sports | Rugby league, soccer, basketball, badminton, ice hockey, motor racing |
| Average attendance at BBL games | Over 20,000 |
| Average attendance at A-League games | 15,804-27,728 |
| Average attendance at Australian Football League games | 36,687 |
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Australian rules football
The field should be an oval between 135 and 185 meters in length and 110 and 155 meters in width, with no standard dimensions as the game is usually played on cricket ovals. The goals are two sets of posts erected at the far ends of the oval, with the inner set of posts being the goalposts, and the outer set being the behind posts. Points are scored by kicking the oval ball between the central goalposts (worth six points) or between a central and outer post (worth one point, known as a "behind").
During general play, players can position themselves anywhere on the field and use any part of their body to move the ball, with the primary methods being kicking, handballing, and running with the ball. There are rules governing how the ball can be handled; for example, players running with the ball must intermittently bounce or touch it on the ground, and throwing the ball is not allowed. A distinctive feature of the game is the "mark", where players anywhere on the field who catch the ball from a kick (with specific conditions) are awarded unimpeded possession.
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Cricket
The sport continues to be popular in Australia, with the country's cricket team achieving notable success. They have won the men's Cricket World Cup a record six times. In 2015, the Cricket World Cup final in Australia drew 93,013 spectators, a record crowd for a cricket match in the country.
The Big Bash League (BBL), established in 2011, has also contributed to the popularity of cricket in Australia. The league has attracted large crowds and viewership, with its matches broadcast on television networks. In the 2014-15 season, the BBL coverage on Network Ten drew an average audience of over 943,000 people nationally, with a peak audience of 1.9 million viewers for the final.
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Video games
Some of the most notable Australian-made video games include Untitled Goose Game, Hollow Knight, and Unpacking. Untitled Goose Game blends puzzle-playing with a narrative element, allowing players to take on the role of a goose causing mischief in a village. Hollow Knight is an action-adventure game set in a complex underworld filled with strange creatures and creepy views. Unpacking is another puzzle game that focuses on the process of unpacking belongings into a new home, with each level representing a different stage of the main character's life.
Australia has also produced popular games such as Bioshock, L.A. Noire, and Way of the Exploding Fist. Additionally, the country's diverse landscapes have served as inspiration for racing games like Forza Horizon 3 and point-and-click adventures like Beneath a Steel Sky.
The Australian video game industry has been characterised by its creativity and innovation, with games often reflecting the country's varied and dynamic culture. The success of Australian games has challenged traditional views of game development and brought unique Australian narratives and aesthetics to a global audience.
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Cockroach racing
The sport has since grown in popularity, with seven cockroach racing events held annually across Australia. These events include the sprint, the steeplechase, and the main event, called the Gold Cup, held at the Story Bridge Hotel. The race arena is a 6-metre ring, and the cockroaches are kept in glass bottles before being released into the middle of the ring. The first cockroach to reach the edge of the ring is declared the winner.
The event attracts a lot of attention and is often referred to as "the greatest gathering of thoroughbred cockroaches in the world". The winners of the races are inducted into a Hall of Fame, with names like "Soft Cocky", "Cocky Balboa", and "Priscila-Queen of the Ring".
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Beach games
Australia's beaches offer a wide variety of activities and games to keep people entertained. The most popular beach games include the iconic Australian beach cricket, beach frisbee, and beach football.
Beach sports are a classification of sports activities conducted on a sand surface, and they can be played on both natural and artificial sand. Some sports are played on hard, compacted sand, while others are played on soft, loose sand. Beach soccer, for example, is a derivative of football played on soft sand with five players on each team. Beach tennis, on the other hand, is played on a higher net without any bounces, using depressurized balls and solid paddles instead of rackets. Beach volleyball has gained immense popularity since the 1980s, leading to the rise of other beach sports.
Other games that are perfect for the beach include the classic limbo, where players take turns trying to go under a lowered bar, and the Beach Olympics, which promotes teamwork and fun. For a unique beach experience, try beach bowling with plastic bottles as pins, or a game of catch with a frisbee in shallow water.
For those who enjoy water sports, kitesurfing is a must-try in Australia, with popular locations including Cairns, Margaret River, and the Gold Coast. Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is another popular activity, with ideal spots in Byron Bay, Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania, and Perth.
Some other beach games include the simple yet enjoyable activity of flying kites, and the competitive game of Musical Towels, which is a twist on Musical Chairs. For a relaxing time, card games like Uno Splash are perfect for the beach, while board games like Otrio offer educational fun.
Additionally, beachgoers can participate in an impactful activity called 'Take Three for the Sea', where they collect and dispose of three pieces of rubbish to protect marine life and maintain the beauty of Australian beaches.
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Frequently asked questions
Cricket and Australian rules football are Australia's national sports. Other popular sports include rugby league, soccer, basketball, and badminton.
81% of Australians play video games, with 94% of households having at least one device to play them on. Popular Australian-made video games include Crossy Road, Untitled Goose Game, Hollow Knight, and Unpacking.
Cockroach racing is a unique Australian game played on Australia Day.
