Background

Sport has the power to change the world, the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else can...sport can create hope...it is an instrument for peace.
Nelson Mandela

The State of Victoria has been enriched by the presence of people from all over the world. Almost a quarter of Victoria's population was born overseas, while 43.5% of Victorians were either born overseas, or have a parent who was born overseas. Victorians come from 233 countries, speak over 180 languages and dialects and follow 116 religious faiths.

Most of these overseas-born Victorians came to Australia as migrants hoping to find a better life for themselves and their children. A significant number came to Australia as refugees - first Europeans displaced by the Second World War, then refugees from the war in Indo-China and more recently refugees from conflicts in the republics of the former Yugoslavia, the Horn of Africa, the Middle East and Afghanistan.

Together these migrants and refugees have made an enormous contribution to the Victorian community in areas of enterprise such as business & politics, education & research and sports & the arts. They have helped create a harmonious peaceful multicultural society actively engaged with the rest of the world.

Multiculturalism today

As we are all aware, the world is a changed place after the events of New York, Bali, Madrid & London. There are those in the world who seek to encourage racial and religiousintolerance.

Aussie Rules International (ARI) strongly believes that Australian football and other sports have a powerful role to play in the current world climate. Sport has a profile that cuts across all cultural and ethnic barriers.

Today, more than ever before, sport is central to human society. It has thecapacity to build international relationships, enabling us all to meet on truly level playing fields. On a basis of common understanding and friendly competition, sport can go some way towards reducing divisions, ignorance and mistrust.

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