Australia is a major sporting event leader with a famed sporting culture and history. Australia’s success comes from a long-term investment in people, community-based sport, and the development of technical expertise. Australia embraces the role sport can play in benefiting and engaging individuals and communities regardless of age, race, gender, cultural background, and physical ability.
Australia’s Expo 2020 Sports Diplomacy Strategy focuses on connecting, developing, and sustaining new and existing channels of sports industry partnerships and international sports networks. Sports Diplomacy complements and extends Australia’s traditional diplomacy activities to inform, engage and influence broad audiences, including key demographics such as youth, emerging leaders, and women and girls.
Australia hopes to bring its strong sporting spirit to Expo 2020 Dubai through daily sports activities and tournaments at Aussie Park, within the Sports, Fitness and Wellbeing Hub, located directly adjacent to the Australian Pavilion. Australia will also convene international forums at Expo 2020, focused on High Performance Sport and Technology, Women in Sport, Sports Diplomacy, and the role of sport in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.
QUICK FACTS
- Over 90% of Australian adults have an interest in sport, with 8.4 million adults and 3 million children participating in sport each year.
- Australia’s welcoming climate, strong economy, and excellent sporting infrastructure are all features that make Australia an attractive destination to host major international sporting events, including the Australia Tennis Open, Australian Grand Prix, and Cycling’s Tour Down Under.
- Australian expertise spans across a range of sectors in the life-cycle of major sporting events, including: event bidding; venue design and construction; event staging services; event management and operations; culture and ceremonies and product design and supply.
- Australia and New Zealand will co-host the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, the largest sporting event for women in the world.
- Australia has hosted the Summer Olympics twice (Melbourne 1956 and Sydney 2000) and Brisbane, Australia was recently awarded the Summer Olympics for 2032.
- More recently in 2018, Australia’s Gold Coast (Sister City with Dubai), hosted the Commonwealth Games.
- Sport is a globally recognised vehicle to achieve development outcomes in areas such as health, social cohesion, gender equality and disability inclusion. The Australian Government supports these outcomes through its targeted sport for development programs in the Indo Pacific region.
- There are more than 95 National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) recognised by the Australian Sports Commission and thousands of local, regional, and state sports bodies.
- The Sports, Fitness and Wellbeing Hub at Expo 2020 Dubai is located next to the Australian Pavilion.
- Aussie Park, a multi-purpose sports field, is located in the Sports, Fitness and Wellbeing Hub.
- Australia will host hundreds of daily activities at Aussie Park, including Skills and Drills and school programs for football, volleyball, and cricket.
- The Australian Cricket Academy will offer skills development training at the Big Bash Nets in Aussie Park throughout Expo 2020.
- Football Australia will train UAE-based coaches to deliver its Mini-Roo’s Football training to school groups during Expo.
- Australia will invite school children to participate in an Aussie Sports Camp at Expo during school holidays.
- Australia will host international forums at Expo 2020, including Women in Sport, Sports High Performance and Technology, Sport for Development, Sports Diplomacy in Practice, and Women in Sport Film Festival.
- Australians use their love of sport as an expression of who they are and what they stand for as an open trading partner to the globe.
SPOKESPERSON QUOTES
Justin McGowan, Commissioner General of Australia at Expo 2020 Dubai, says:
“Sport is an integral part of Australian culture, with the unique power to bring people, communities, and nations together.
“Our team and partners have developed an incredible line up of sporting events and activations, right next door to the Australian Pavilion, at the aptly named Aussie Park. We look forward to welcoming visitors and fellow country pavilions to participate and witness the power of the social bonds that are created through sport.
“Sports diplomacy also plays a unique role in building global connections and unlocking important diplomatic and trade networks across international markets.
“Sport is a globally recognised vehicle to achieve development outcomes in areas such as health, social cohesion, gender equality and disability inclusion.”
Kevin Brown, Vice President, Events and Entertainment, Expo 2020 Dubai, said:
“Sports speaks to the world in a language that everyone understands. With the power to inspire and unite people from diverse backgrounds and to create hope, the Expo 2020 Dubai sports platform has been developed with a shared purpose of international cooperation towards a healthier, happier and safer planet.”
SPORTS DIPLOMACY
In 2019, Australia launched its Sports Diplomacy 2030 strategy. Sports Diplomacy 2030 envisages closer collaboration between Australia’s sports codes, industry and government to leverage the nation’s sporting excellence in ways that enhance Australia’s international influence and reputation and advances its national interests.
Expo 2020 Dubai provides a platform for Australia to leverage its strong sporting brand, to enhance its global reputation, build diplomatic and economic relations, and identify international opportunities.
The Australian Pavilion will work alongside Expo 2020, and international partners to deliver a series of major sporting events that explore the power of sport to promote gender equality, disability inclusion, social cohesion, and healthy lifestyles.
High Performance and Sports Tech Symposium
Sports technology and High Performance are multi-billion-dollar industries with significant growth potential that have revolutionised sports in both the professional and amateur environments. Australia has a strong track record of fostering innovation in sports technology and performance training. This symposium will bring together sports innovators, athletes and industry to discuss the future of sport.
Women in Sport Forum
The Australian Pavilion will work with the Women’s Pavilion to highlight the dynamic role of women and girls in sport. This event will bring together women leaders within the sports industry for a dynamic program of presentations and panel discussions.
Sport for Development
Sport is a globally recognised vehicle to achieve development outcomes in areas such as health, social cohesion, gender equality and disability inclusion. Australia will share its best-practices in successfully using sport to deliver development programs in the Indo-Pacific that address the Sustainable Development Goals.
Women in Sport Media Workshop
Student journalist sports media training.
Australian Sport Diplomacy
How to develop a sports diplomacy strategy – led by Stephanie Brantz, Chair, Australia Sports Diplomacy Council.
AUSSIE PARK AT THE SPORTS, FITNESS AND WELLNESS HUB
Harnessing the unique power of sport to bring together people, communities and nations, Expo 2020 Dubai will offer a packed sporting programme featuring a diverse array of free activities, exhibition matches, big-name sporting stars and an entire zone dedicated to fitness and wellness.
Aussie Park, a multipurpose sports field, is located adjacent to the Australian Pavilion, within the Sports, Fitness and Wellbeing Hub – a 5,400 sqm space complete with football goals, basketball courts, and space for volleyball, tennis, and netball; ‘Big Bash’ cricket nets, an indoor fitness studio; a fitness stage; large LED screens; and a space for sports exhibitions, showcases and celebrity signings.
A space that promotes physical activity as a way of life, Aussie Park is the heart of Expo 2020 Dubai’s sporting programme. Aussie Park will host events and competitions throughout Expo, and visitors will enjoy activities for free as part of their entry ticket – emphasising that sport really is for everyone. These programs include;
- The MiniRoos program will run for the duration of Expo. It will take place 2-3 times per week. UAE coaches will be trained and developed by Football Australia, with ongoing mentoring. This program serves as an introduction to soccer and will primarily target groups with little to minimal experience with the game.
- In partnership with the International Cricket Council and Cricket Australia, the Australian Pavilion will deliver the Australian Cricket Academy. Running 2-3 times during the week, on weekends, and during school holidays. It will concentrate on batting and bowling skills located at the Aussie Big Bash Cricket nets at Aussie Park.
- School children will be invited to attend the Aussie Sports Camp at Expo 2020 Dubai during UAE school holidays. Participants will learn about Australian sport, while developing skills in a relaxed and fun environment.
KEY SPORTS EVENTS
In addition to daily competitions, skills/ drills and school programs being held at Aussie Park, Australia is hosting many sports related events and activities throughout the expo, including:
- Inter Pavilion Multi-Sports Round Robin Tournament (run by Expo 2020 Dubai)
- Dubai 30/30 – 01 November 2021 – 04 November 2021
- Melbourne Cup Carnival – November 02 November, 2021
- Inter-pavilion Cricket Tournament
- Rugby 7’s – 2-5 December, 2021
- AFL Clinics, International Rules Exhibition Match – January 27-31, 2022
- Australian Open Women’s Final Screening – 29 January 2022
- Australian Open Men’s Final Screening – 30 January 2022
- Sports Science and High Performance Conference – 31 January 2022
- Health & Wellness Week – 01 February 2022 – 05 February 2022
- World Hearing Day Sports Event
- Women in Sports Forum – 07 March 2022
- Women in Sport Film Festival – March 2022 – This will run across the International Women’s Day week
- Women in sport media training Nov 2021-March 2022
KEY PARTNERS
Australia is delighted to be working with key partners in sport including:
- Cricket Australia is the national government body for cricket in Australia, a foundation member of cricket’s world governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC).
- Football Australia is the national network for Football in Australia and home of the MiniRoos program for children.
- The Australian Olympic Committee, Australia’s national Olympic body.
- The National Basketball League (NBL) is the premier professional basketball league in Australia.
- Rugby AU is the sport’s national governing body in Australia and is a member of World Rugby, Oceania Rugby and SANZAAR.
- Sports Inclusion Australia is a national sporting organisation established to assist in the inclusion of people with an intellectual disability into the mainstream community using sport as a medium.
- The Australian Grand Prix is an annual motor racing event under Formula One and hosted in Melbourne, Australia.
- The PGA of Australia is the third oldest Professional Golfers Association in the world, a not-for-profit member-based organisation supporting Tournament Golfers and Club Professionals.
- Richmond Football Club (the Tigers) are based in Melbourne, founded in 1885, and play in the Australian Football League (AFL)
ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN PAVILION:
Situated in the heart of the Mobility District at Expo 2020 Dubai, the Australian Pavilion pays homage to a nation built on mobility. From our earliest histories to the modern day, the movement of people and ideas is embedded in our nation’s DNA. As one of the world’s most multicultural societies, Australia brings a powerful understanding of how the transfer of people, innovations, and culture work together to build economies and enrich lives. The pavilion theme, Blue Sky Dreaming, encapsulates Australian optimism and creativity and celebrates Australian diversity and collaboration, envisaging a future of infinite possibilities founded on 60,000 years of innovation.
From under the gleaming canopy of its cumulus cloud-inspired roof, the Australian Pavilion visitor experience will tell Australia’s story, from ancient indigenous know-how to modern day discovery and invention. Visitors will be invited to share, see, and hear about our people, land, history, and innovation connecting communities locally and globally. The pavilion provides a compelling experience of Australia through immersive storytelling, bold artistic art installations, and true Australian hospitality through Australian inspired-food and culturally diverse entertainment.
The pavilion will also host a strategic program of events connecting Australian business and industry to global trade and investment opportunities, and demonstrating the best of Australian products, services, and expertise to other participating countries.
