The chart below shows the number of adults participating in different major sports in one area, in 1997 and 2017.

The bar chart compares adult participation rates across seven distinct sports in a specific region between 1997 and 2017. Tennis maintained the highest number of participants, rising from 50,000 in 1997 to 55,000 in 2017. Football and rugby both experienced an upward trend, starting at 32,000 and 33,000 players in 1997 and peaking

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around 48,000 and 49,000 in 2017. Basketball recorded the most striking increase, the number of participants doubling from 9,000 to 23,000 over the two decades.

In contrast

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, adult participation in swimming remained unchanged at 35,000 across both years. Golf saw a minimal rise, going from 32,000 to 33,000 participants. Cricket was the only sport to suffer a downward trend, dropping sharply from 26,000 players in 1997 to just 7,000 in 2017.

Overall

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, adult engagement increased in most sports over the 20-year period, with tennis remaining the most popular activity in both years. Football, rugby, and basketball experienced significant growth,

while

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cricket saw a dramatic drop in numbers, and swimming did not change.