Aussie Rules Comes to Shanghai
On 17 October, Shanghai’s Jiangwan Stadium will play host to the Kaspersky Cup 2010 AFL Showdown featuring Australian Football League teams Melbourne Demons and Brisbane Lions. Always keen to explore new opportunities to expand the sport, this will be the first ever AFL game played in China. Sponsored in part by the Australian Pavilion at the Expo, the match is the marquee event in the AFL’s current strategy to capture the hearts and imaginations of the Chinese market with this uniquely Australian sport. The AFL’s China program director Andrew Sawitsch notes, “Sport and Australian football is a big part of life in Australia, so bringing the real thing to China for people to see is sure to have a lot of long term benefits for both countries.”
While the 2010 AFL season recently ended, the enthusiasm from both clubs to participate in an event of this calibre promises that Melbourne and Brisbane will be fielding full-strength squads, with the odd exception of players recovering from injuries or post-season surgery. In a landmark agreement, the event will also be shown live on International Channel Shanghai (ICS); this television deal will continue into the 2011 season with one live AFL game shown on ICS every week. “We see the match as a launching pad for further development of the game across China, and also further engaging with the huge Chinese community living in Australia,” says Sawitsch.
For those not familiar with Australian Rules football, it is the country’s only indigenous sport and shares aspects and skills of several other sports, including rugby and American football. Played on a large oval field, teams consist of 18 players running amok trying to kick an egg-shaped ball through goal posts placed at opposite ends of the pitch. The ball can be advanced using any part of the body; however players are not allowed to throw the ball. Frequent full-contact tackling, fast-paced action and a lack of protective equipment make it an exhilarating viewing experience.
The AFL is also proactively exposing the game to a younger audience. In conjunction with the Kaspersky Cup, the popular Auskick program, developed to increase interest and participation in the sport, has been implemented in five Yangpu District primary schools. According to Sawitsch: “In some ways this is a pilot program to create awareness and put in place a structure where the Auskick program can have a place in Chinese schools. We hope that next year there are even more schools on board.” As a reward for their hard work, participating students will enjoy a kick-about during half-time on match day in front of the crowd.
Within the expat community, Auskick programs are already in place, including the Pudong Auskick Centre which meets at Dulwich School every Sunday morning. For older players, the Shanghai AFL has recently expanded to a three team Shanghai league which then come together under the unified banner of the Shanghai Tigers for domestic and international tournaments. Tickets for the Melbourne vs Brisbane match are on sale now and available at the door on the day of the game; however, as organisers expect a full stadium, you are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.
17 October. 2pm. Jiangwan Stadium. 346 Guohe Lu, near Zhengtong Lu. Yangpu District. Price: RMB 50 (Students); RMB 100 (Adults). Web: www.ticket2010.com
