Sports participation in the U.K. continues to rise, according to the latest Sport England Active People Survey. The study, which covers the period between Oct. 2014 and Sept. 2015, reveals that 15.74 million people aged 16 and over played at least 30 minutes of sport at moderate intensity at least once a week, 23,200 more than 12 months ago. The increase is 1.65 million since the first survey in 2005-2006. If we look at the breakdown by gender, however, male participation in the 16+ age group decreased, with 8.73 million males playing sport once a week, namely 21,500 fewer than during Sept. 2013-Oct. 2014. The numbers rose for women, with 7.01 million females aged 16 and above playing sport once a week, 44,700 more than during Sept. 2013-Oct. 2014. The top three sports in terms of adults taking part at least once a week are swimming, with 2.5 million participants, followed by athletics with 2.3 million, and then cycling with 2 million. Football occupies the fourth position with 1.8 million players. 

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