Smiles all around at the IEC Cup

On Monday, June 21, a group of refugees and newly arrived migrant students took part in an AFL gala-day at Blacktown Olympic Park.

The initiative was developed by AFL (NSW/ACT)’s Multicultural Department which has been conducting NAB Auskick programs in IEC classrooms for the past two years.

The program is designed to teach people about the rules of the game through visual examples of match-play, grounds, clubs and rules. The six to ten week program then takes people outside so they can have a kick of the Sherrin and enjoy the excitement of AFL.

AFL (NSW/ACT) Multicultural Programs Manager Maria Cosmidis said the IEC Cup helped to introduce new people to the game of Australian Football.

“We have seen significant growth in AFL in recent years, especially in western Sydney, and the IEC Cup is another example of the development of the game,” Cosmidis said.

“The IEC Cup offers refugees and newly arrived migrant students, who have recently moved to Australia, with an opportunity to experience a new sport and meet new friends as they settle into their new lives.

“Students from a variety of cultural backgrounds converged on Blacktown Olympic Park to play a game which was once foreign to them in a country that they now consider their home.

“It was truly a special moment for these individuals and a great example of how sport can assist in the settlement process.”

The fact the event came to fruition is an example of how far the game has come over the past decade, not only in Sydney and Australia, but worldwide.

It also highlights the direction the game is heading, especially with the introduction of the World Team at next month’s NAB AFL Under-16 Championships at Blacktown Olympic Park.

The World Team is comprised of a number of players living overseas in South Africa, China, Denmark, USA, England, Canada and Ireland who have taken up AFL and are excelling at the sport.

Coach of the side, Sydney Swans’ games record holder, Michael O’Loughlin said he has noticed how far the game has come since his playing days.

“In 1995 when I first moved to the Swans, AFL was virtually unknown and the club had to work extremely hard in the community and schools just to have a presence in Sydney,” O’Loughlin said.

“Today the game has expanded to include two new teams, AFL is being played by kids outside of Australia and next month a World Team will show just how far the game has grown when they take on the best under-16 year olds from around the country.”

The IEC Cup also ties in with World Refugee Week from June 14 to 20.