The One World Cup, organised by the Victoria Police, the Victoria Police Soccer Club, the Australian Intercultural Society and Football Federation Victoria, sent an invitation to all culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) leaders to field a team representing their country of origin to the soccer tournament. The team should be comprised of 10 players, two of whom should be female, and one at least should be fielded at all times. It will be held during “Harmony Week” on 17 March, 10am-5pm at Football Fives (Knox Regional Football Centre), Eastern Recreation Precinct, Wantirna South. Celebrity game commences at 2pm.
One World Cup is a unique youth project targeted at promoting, encouraging, and celebrating diversity and multicultural harmony via soccer, a sports code that breaks the barriers of language and culture. The underlying message of the “One World Cup” is that despite sections of our community having different backgrounds, different cultures and different faiths we are all “One” when we live in Australia
(Victoria).
The 32 teams of 10 football (soccer) players will compete for a replica World Cup trophy and medals to all winning team members. The World Cup trophy symbolises and acknowledges that our multicultural community is comprised of people from all over the world. Gender equality will also be promoted in the event with female representation in each team as mandatory criteria for all participating teams.
The tournament will be a visual pool of diversity with each team bringing its own flag while an Australian flag will be draped over the tournament venue in a symbolic manner. The tournament would also include a team from the VPSC and the Australian Intercultural Society.
Key internal stakeholders have organised the event in partnership between Multicultural Liaison Unit, the VPSC and Football Federation Victoria (FFV) and the Australian Intercultural Society (Ahmet
Apolat).
The event will be supported by police resources on display – Code 1, the Air wing, the Mounted Branch, the Dog Squad, among others to demonstrate Victoria Police commitment to bringing people together.
Eastern Region Acting Inspector has carriage for coordination of this event (with support of the Victoria Police Soccer Club).
If you would like to enter a team in this event, complete an expression of interest form and forward to Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Jason Goddard at email address jason.goddard@police.vic.gov.au. For enquiries, contact Sgt Goddard on 0428 329 767. Also, visit the website http://www.intercultural.org.au/ for further details.
