The 2016 Toyota AFL Multicultural Round was officially launched in Western Sydney in an event full of colour and sound, encapsulating the atmosphere that will surround all nine of the weekend’s fixtures.
Traditional Chinese lion dancers welcomed local and national dignitaries to the launch at the Female Orphan School at Western Sydney University’s Parramatta Campus.
Bollywood dancers from the United Indian Associations entertained the guests inside the building before formalities got underway.
As highlighted by AFL Commissioner Gabrielle Trainor in her opening speech, the school has a strong link the history of the Australian Football.
It was home to the mother (Elizabeth McGuire) of Tom Wills, the man many credit with creating of Australian football.
“It makes a lot of sense to launch our Multicultural Round in this place, a building steeped in the history of our nation, and connected closely to the birth of our great game,” Trainor said.
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The GIANTS Stephen Coniglio and Sydney’s Aliir Aliir were also on hand to launch the event as Australia Post Multicultural Ambassadors.
Former Hawthorn star and five-time premiership player Robert DiPierdomenico quizzed the pair about their backgrounds and journeys to the AFL.
“It’s an exciting round and it’s a great imitative to be celebrating different cultures and different countries that make up this great sport and country,” Coniglio said.
“A lot of the time AFL’s not the sport you grew up with, so to be able to fall in love with the game and celebrate it and your family, it’s a great occasion.”
Journalist and master of ceremonies Angela Pippos led a panel discussion with NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, John Ajaka, Western Sydney Hip Hop artist L-FRESH The LION and CEO of Community Hubs Australia Sonja Hood.
L-FRESH will perform at the Multicultural Festival in Cathy Freeman Park before the GIANTS take on Collingwood at Spotless Stadium.
The GIANTS are proud to celebrate the 2016 Toyota AFL Multicultural Round during their match against Collingwood at Spotless Stadium on Saturday, July 9.
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.
