World Footy News

The year 2014 presents itself as a great opportunity for international teams, and their players, to embrace and be embraced by Australian Rules football clubs across the world. Whilst there are carnivals such as the Euro Cup and the EEAFL throughout Asia which bring those parts of the world closer, it is the year of an International Cup which has the greatest potential to create lasting bonds between teams and players from across the world.

This year’s IC14 in Melbourne will be no exception as national teams, represented by many local clubs within their countries, make the journey to Australia where they will play hard against their opposition on the field, yet build lasting friendships afterwards off the field.

But the IC14 is not the only forum from which this international connection can be forged and strengthened. This year, on July 5th, it is the Sister Cities International Day. This is a day where cities across the world are encouraged to deepen their connection and communication with their “sisters” across the world. Most cities have a connection of this type. An example is my own home town of Cairns.

Here in tropical North Queensland, our own Cairns Regional Council has linked over the years with 7 cities. They are Scottsdale in Arizona (USA), Sidney in British Columbia, Riga in Latvia, Lae in Papua New Guinea, Zhanjiang in China and both Oyama and Minami in Japan. Investigations by those interested would likely unearth “sister cities” across the world linked to their nearest city. It is a wonderful way to start a journey of bringing people together across the world. A tiny step, but a positive one.

My own club in Cairns, Pyramid Power, unashamedly based its existing Brother Clubs Project on the Sister Cities concept. We used it as a means of reaching out through friendship to clubs across the world. Not only do we have over 100 “brothers” across the world, we have also been able to help a number of them in tangible ways, making the idea have a value beyond ticking off a name on a list. We are proud to interact with clubs across the world, and feel closer to that world. The Sister Cities International day would allow for a similar feeling of connection beyond one’s own home.

In the spirit of the coming together of many players and teams from across the world for the IC14, perhaps there is also the opportunity for individuals and clubs to contact their nearest city council and somehow become involved in that city’s Sister Cities International Day projects. Here in Cairns, our club has already offered our story to the council as an example of how one club has already embraced similar international connections. Kids in the local school who also play for the club are entering an art display which focuses on those international links.

These kids are helping our community to foster links with people in other nations and of other cultures across the globe, and are doing so through the medium of Australian Rules football. In a world that presents so many negative images to our youth, here is a great example of how they are undaunted and strive for positive relationships and experiences.

When considering the IC14 and other carnivals or matches which bring people together, maybe give some thought also to getting behind the “Sister Cities International Day” on July 5th.

Australian Rules football can never be big enough to be a vehicle for the Sister Cities concept. But it is slightly possible the Sister Cities concept could be a vehicle for Australian Rules football internationally. Ah, to dream!

We did..!!