Richard Marles after signing the MOU last week, with two PNG footballers in Australia for the International Cup

Last week, on 22 August 2011, the Parliamentary Secretary for the Pacific Island Affairs, Richard Marles, co-signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Australian Football League’s International Development Manager, Mr Tony Woods. Below is a transcript of the Government’s media release which outlines how Australia’s Signature Sport can be used to promote Australia and vice versa.

Under this MOU, the Australian Government will work with the AFL to support the development of the code overseas. The AFL will also assist the Government to promote trade and investment, using Australian football as a platform.

The AFL will where possible hold at least one exhibition game a year to maximise trade and brand opportunities, and notify the Government of likely offshore events.

The Government will provide assistance to the AFL in identifying up to four profiling events overseas annually, and will facilitate contact between the AFL and companies likely to sponsor offshore AFL events.

Mr Marles said the MOU formalises the continuation of the close working relationship that has emerged between the Australian Government and AFL in the past two years, resulting in several joint activities.

These include the AFL exhibition game between Brisbane Lions and Melbourne Demons, held at the Shanghai World Expo in 2010, and the AFL game between Pacific and Indigenous Australian teams at the 40th Pacific Island Forum in Cairns in 2009.

“The MOU recognises that the AFL is growing internationally and we hope our continued collaboration will help develop the game’s export potential,” Mr Marles said.

The Vietnam Swans have long believed that Australia’s Signature Sport has a role to play in promoting Australia. Recently, we have heard a lot about how Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade wishes to use Australia Network as a vehicle to promote Australia.

Perhaps soon, we may at least get the scores of regional ANZAC matches and the Asian Champs on Australia Network. That would give more credibility to our Signature Sport and the many players who live and work in the region, on a daily basis, as unofficial Australian ambassadors.

Comment from MJ

Newsline ran a story about the International Cup during last night’s edition (Aug 29).

http://australianetwork.com/newsline/archives.htm

Click on “Pacific Potential” for the video about how footy is going to surpass rugby (but soccer is still a hard ask).