AusLeisure

More than 300 teenagers from across Australia will be at the Blacktown International Sportspark Sydney for the 2017 AFL Diversity Championships from Saturday 8th to Thursday 13th April 2017.

Hosted on the traditional lands of the Darug people, Blacktown City Mator Stephen Bali is ecstatic that Blacktown has been selected to host the prestigious event.

Mayor Bali stated “it is fantastic to have each state represented in both Indigenous and multicultural sides, and I’m delighted that such a significant event will take place right here in Blacktown.

“Blacktown City’s people are our greatest asset. We have the largest urban population of Indigenous people in Australia and we proudly celebrate our cultural diversity – there are 177 nationalities and 169 languages spoken in Blacktown”

Currently in its fourth year, the AFL National Diversity Championships has been developed to provide a supported talented player pathway that compliments the NAB AFL Under 16 Championships and exposes Indigenous and multicultural players, coaches, umpires, doctors, and trainers to an elite AFL Program environment.

Supported by Australia Post and Rio Tinto, the Championships will feature over 300 young Indigenous and multicultural AFL players across 14 teams representing all States and Territories.

The championships also allow opportunities to learn about culture, identity and personal development, reflecting the current cultural landscape of Australia.

Mayor Bali added “Blacktown is proud to be a sporting city, and we aim to support athletes from grassroots all the way through to the elite level.”

Blacktown International Sportspark Sydney is an Olympic legacy venue managed by Blacktown City Council.

For more information go to www.blacktownsportspark.com.au

Images: Team captains at the 2016 AFL Diversity Championships in Townsville (top, courtesy of AFL Victoria) and Blacktown International Sportspark Sydney (below). 

26th June 2016 - INDIGENOUS RIGHTS CAMPAIGNER TANYA HOSCH APPOINTED TO NEW AFL DIVERSITY ROLE

4th May 2016 - BLACKTOWN CITY COUNCIL BUDGET BACKS SPORT VENUES

14th April 2016 - SUBURBAN SYDNEY STADIA TO BENEFIT UNDER $40 MILLION NRL CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE PLAN 

27th March 2016 - AFL PROGRAM ENCOURAGES CULTURAL DIVERSITY ON AND OFF THE FOOTBALL FIELD

12th September 2015 - WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS TO BE KEY PART OF EXPANDED BLACKTOWN FOOTBALL PARK 

12th August 2015 - NEW KEY VENUES SECTION PUTS LEISURE AT THE HEART OF BLACKTOWN CITY COUNCIL SERVICES 

28th May 2015 - AFL SPORTSREADY LAUNCHES INAUGURAL RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN

13th January 2015 - BLACKTOWN INTERNATIONAL SPORTSPARK WELCOMES WATERWORLD CENTRAL PORTABLE WATERPARK

2nd June 2014 - AFL CONGRATULATED FOR BACKING RECONCILIATION INITIATIVES

16th October 2013 - 500,000 MAKE USE OF BLACKTOWN INTERNATIONAL SPORTSPARK IN 2012/13

15th July 2013 - AFL MULTICULTURAL ROUND CELEBRATES DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.