How might a young person who is not that interested in sport find it living in Australia?

[Onthefence]

Certainly stereotypically (although I'm sure not true for some Australians), sport is a significant interest in a lot of Australians lives. In the UK football (soccer) is very popular and followed to almost an obsessive level and quite a few people are suprised when you're not interested in it and it can sometimes make conversation difficult when you're not clued up on football.

Is the scenario on sport the same in Australia for younger people (ie under 30), are people open minded to the fact some people aren't interested in sport or is it almost expected that someone will be interested in sport?

I'm not expecting it to be a huge problem, but thanks for any insight regardless.
In the UK when you meet someone for the first time, it's not unusual for one of the first questions to be "what football team do you support?", it's kinda like a jokey question tho for them to decide whether to make fun of you for supporting a crap team or applaud you for supporting their team. Are similar questions asked in australia commonly?

[Blake]

Its generally expected, to follow an AFL team at least.

[sass_aisha24]

As aproud Asutralian living in "it's sunny....wait no it's raining" Melbourne sport central, its not at all bad if you don't follow sport. There is a wealth of arts and theater to keep you busy. If you come up to people and thy are talking about sport what I do is throw in the name "the pies" or "collingwood" and I'm good, that's if I can be bothered.
Peopel are friendly and won't look at you like you have two heads if you don't follow sports. There is pleanty to takl about other than sport if not then you drink (another national sport).

Have fun and enjoy!

[maccaz]

If you dont like sport then you dont like sport. We wont bash for not liking sport. There are other things in Oz besides being interested in sports.

I mean sport is an essential part of schooling life in Australian /Nz scchools.

Once students finish high school many students have work,. uni, families to deal with rather than sport. I mean you become an observer of sport rather than a participator.

I go to uni with many students in particular the girls who hate sport. I mean the only exercise they get is when they run to a store to buy a discounted dress.

People are free to do as they will without being bullied into liking sports.

[chrisathornchurch]

as a none interested sports person (I have no idea about most sports at all) I did two trips down under , over several weeks I found just too much to do as talk about without bothering at all about sport. This was when England was playing the world rugby tour too with the Harbour bridge illuminated!
you will find them friendly but slightly impersonal as everybody is OK and they take up in as Friends quickly .equally they drop you as quick too.
I'd love to retire there but without a lottery win .. sigh.
do enjoy the trip and you will book again one day once your appetite has been whetted . have a look at the OZ art too.It;'s brilliant.

[iansand9876]

On any weekend many, many more Australians go to museums and art galleries than attend sporting events.

[JudithoftheNeverNever]

In Australia, nobody gives a rats behind whether you are into sport or not, there is friendly rivalry when we have interstate ie/ New South Wales vs Queensland. You may be asked who your team is but the answer you give won't be a big deal to the person asking it. Like football around the world, we have the fanatics who live eat & breath, living next door and working with others who just don't care!

[petedavo]

I agree but there is more to life than sport.

Just have a look at some of the videos on http://www.westernaustralia.com to see that there is much more to do here than kick a ball.
(Like getting tanked on plonk at Margaret River LOL)

[coolgirl]

u don't have to be sporty to live here it's a great country i support the footy team ricmond tigers but the only reason is cos my dad does.

[BellaB]

Sport is very popular here, but because there is such a large variety of sports (4 different footbally type codes not including things like touch, Gaelic or American), you'll get away with it.

Even the obsessive fans here are mild compared to the UK soccor fans from what I understand...

It also depends on what you're into, there's all sorts of niches here and no doubt you'll find yours...