![A black and white photo of a girl leaning back to throw a javelin while yelling.](/sites/default/files/styles/wide/public/media/images/2023-05/nla-grit-gold-javelin-obj-141724663.jpg?itok=sAUdxBiV)
Supporting the local football team, going to the pool, playing tennis, golf or bowls - these are all things which Australians know well. Local teams provide entertainment for fans and help promote a sense of shared identity in towns, villages and cities.
Sports carnivals and inter-school competitions help build camaraderie among students. Whether it takes the form of a school competition, a suburban sports team or an amateur tennis competition, community sport has long been the focus of Australian sporting culture.