Saturday's MCG blockbuster between arch-rivals Collingwood and Carlton will be the showcase game of the AFL's Multicultural Round.
Multicultural Round highlights the contribution multicultural communities have made to the game’s history and welcomes new communities to embrace Australian Football as fans, players, umpires or administrators.
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said he is proud to announce a record number of activities will take place in Round 19 to mark Multicultural Round.
“With 27 per cent of Australians born overseas and around 200 languages spoken every day in Australian homes, the AFL is committed to reflecting Australia’s growing cultural diversity.
Dale Thomas speaks at the launch of the AFL's Multicultural Round. (Photo: AFL Photos)
“As an industry we will continue to reach out to new and emerging communities not only because it’s important for the growth of our game but as the number one sporting code in the country, we have a leadership role to play in social cohesion.
“This year, we are excited to launch our first ever Multicultural Festival at the Collingwood v Carlton match at MCG and to see all games broadcast in the seven most spoken languages via the AFL app, along with in-language messages integrated at all the venues and on field during Round 19 of the AFL Premiership Season.
“Together with our inclusion partner Australia Post, we have launched the 2015 My AFL Passport Ticketing campaign which aims to welcome over 24,000 people who have never experienced Australia Football to attend an AFL game for free in Multicultural Round,” said Mr McLachlan.
Australia Post Group Managing Director and CEO, Ahmed Fahour said Australia Post’s ongoing commitment to celebrating cultural diversity was something it shared with the AFL and hoped that, through their Multicultural programs and Multicultural Round, they would encourage new fans and communities to the great game of AFL.
“Australia Post employs 37,000 people from 137 nations and almost a quarter of our employees are from non-English speaking backgrounds, so the celebration of diversity and multiculturalism is something very personal to our organisation,” said Mr Fahour.
“Footy has the power to bring neighbourhoods together and connect communities and people from different cultural backgrounds. The upcoming Multicultural Round and the Many Cultures, One Game Festival before Collingwood V Carlton at the MCG are just a few examples of the platform that footy gives us to highlight the inclusive benefits of sport”.
In 2015, 14% of AFL players listed are born overseas or have one parent who was born overseas.
