The article presents the results of a sociological research of sports priorities of St. Petersburg residents in the focus of the real and spectator participation. Research was carried out in the period from February 5 to March 18, 2016 and was based on a telephone survey by personal standardized interview with the quota stratified sample (1,000 people) and was made in the CAT1 system. The study revealed a fundamental clash of opinions of Petersburgers in the question of what sport to engage themselves in and what sports to be spectators of. When the general attitude to the sport depends on the availability of free time and the degree of work tension, the active involvement in sports practice is associated with psychological comfort and a high degree of self-control of access, rhythm and degree of stress. The spectator's interest is based on the competitiveness and game character of sports. The structure of sports practices is clearly expressed by sex, age and education. A considerable variation of the interests depends on the employment sphere. The choice of sports is up to the income, family status and amount of children.