For the 13-year period between 1992 to 2005, sports attracted fewer Canadian children, particularly those from large cities and families with lower incomes and educational levels.

According to a Statistics Canada study, in 1992, 57 percent of school children reported regularly taking part in an organized sport, while in 2005 only 51 percent did.

The favorite game of sport-oriented Canadian youth for both males and females was soccer, which had dislodged swimming from the number one spot.

The study, which looked deeper into sport participation trends among 2 million school-age Canadian children, linked participation rates with residence in a smaller town and higher family income and parental education.

Another study by Active Healthy Kids Canada blamed the decline of physical activities of Canadian children on excessive time spent in front of computers, television and video games.