The GIANTS and the AFL have launched the 2017 Toyota AFL Multicultural Round at Lachlan’s Old Government House in Parramatta on Tuesday morning.
AFL General Manager of Inclusion and Social Policy was joined at the launch by Gurpreet Grewal, the subject of the third film in a film series with Australia Post celebrating the cultural diversity within the game, Australia Post AFL Multicultural Player Ambassador and Sydney Swan Aliir Aliir, GIANTS player Tendai Mzungu, GIANTS inaugural AFLW player Mai Nguyen and members of the AFL NSW/ACT Multicultural programs at the launch.
Ms Hosch explained that the round was an important reminder to AFL fans and the wider Australian community about embracing the cultural diversity within our migrant nation.
“We see more than ever that the community level and grassroots football is starting to reflect the cultural diversity within our country, and the work we do through our Multicultural Programs – with our community inclusion partner Australia Post – needs to be credited,” Ms Hosch said.
“Whilst it will take time, we are firm in our commitment to have the elite game being truly representative of the cultural landscape of Australia.
“The Next Generation Academies are a tangible approach of this commitment and will no doubt provide further opportunity and success to players of all backgrounds in the years to come.
“As we celebrate the sixth Toyota AFL Multicultural Round, we currently have 117 players in the men’s competition with multicultural backgrounds, 14 per cent overall, and 21 of them having been born overseas. Whilst 17 of this year’s AFLW players have multicultural backgrounds.
“Our iconic game provides a harmonious and safe platform for all to feel included in Australian society and to have various cultures and linguistics celebrated,” she said.
Highlights of the 2017 Toyota AFL Multicultural Round
- Sherrin match ball with the word ‘Welcome’ in six languages (Mandarin, Hindi, Spanish, Greek, Italian, and Arabic)
- Bilingual 50m arc marking in six languages
- #ManyCulturesOneGame written on the field in place of afl.com.au
- Umpires to wear orange wristbands and orange goal flags to represent harmony
- Multicultural Round theme LED signage around venues
- Video stories to be played on the big screens around all venues
- There will be pre-game entertainment and a number of clubs will have special on-field jumpers celebrating the diversity of cultures within Australian Football
- Thousands of new fans and communities will experience live AFL action for the first time through the AFL MyPassport program which has been supported by Australia Post
- Match attendees of the Australia Post AFL MyPassport program and ethnic media outlets will receive information about Australian Football in different languages
- The AFL and the AFL Coaches Association will again host the Alex Jesaulenko AFL Coaching Internship. This program will see ten clubs – Brisbane, Carlton, Essendon, Gold Coast SUNS, GWS GIANTS, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Richmond, Sydney Swans, and West Coast Eagles - appoint coaches with multicultural backgrounds to their football departments for the remainder of the 2017 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.
As part of the Toyota AFL Multicultural Round, the GWS GIANTS with the support of Multicultural NSW and AFL NSW/ACT will be hosting the 2017 AFL Multicultural Festival presented by Australia Post on Saturday July 29 at Cathy Freeman Park, Sydney Olympic Park.
There will be loads of FREE family friendly entertainment, workshops, AFL clinics, food stalls and rides.
The Festival runs from 12pm to 6pm plus, the GIANTS will be taking on Fremantle in the 2017 Toyota AFL Multicultural Round just next door at Spotless Stadium from 2:10pm. For more information click here.
