Untitled

Abstract

Health and life style gain increasing emphasis in contemporary societies. As physical inactivity became one of the urging threats in modernity, governments attempt to adopt policies to tackle this issue, and give special attention to sport participation and the level of physical activity of citizens. This issue is widely studied by scientific research; however, fewer studies focus on sport participation from the regional aspect in general. This study aims to analyse sport participation trends of the Hungarian total population with special attention given to regional trends and size of settlements; and comparing that with results gained in the European Union. It also attempts to make those comparisons and point out differences in relation to reasons for, obstacles and venues of participation; furthermore, evaluation of local sporting opportunities and actions of local authorities for sport. Based on data received from the Eurobarometer surveys sport and physical activity participation of the Hungarian population increased from 2009 to 2013 (10%), however, Hungary is still below the EU average. Hungarians less often exercise at locations such as fitness clubs, sport clubs or open spaces such as parks or natural environment; and more often use choose their private home for such purposes. Both never and regularly exercising expressed strong dissatisfaction with local sporting opportunities and with the contribution of local governments in support of sport than in the EU. Answers to the measured variables showed high diversity in regards to settlement size both in EU and Hungary and in regional distribution in case of Hungary. Sporting infrastructure was less used by people living on the lowest urbanisation level. This finding was reflected in the negative consideration of local opportunities and actions of local governments, which was actually suggest that relevant sport infrastructure and opportunities for sport such as organisations, programs, communities do not exist with such frequency as they do at larger settlements.