A new government sports program is aiming to conduct diplomacy through sport.
The $4 million Asia Sports Program (ASP) will provide sporting programs in countries throughout Asia over two years.
The first $2 million will go to 10 Australian sporting organisations who will use sport to promote community health, social inclusion, and youth participation in eight Asian countries.
The sports include football, badminton, cricket, hockey, table tennis and tennis and programs will be carried ou
“Whether they’re parents learning about nutrition through playing basketball in Timor Leste, or school children improving with their help by playing football in India or communities coming together by playing netball in Sri Lanka, Australia will be using its expertise in sport to make a difference,” Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said.
Representatives from cricket, netball and football were at Sydney’s Kiribilli House on Wednesday to launch the partnership, which will also focus on gender equality, disability inclusion and peace building.
“This is our region, our neighbourhood, our part of the world where we can make the biggest difference,” Ms Bishop said.
Netball Australia plans to deliver programs to increase sport participation levels among girls and women by contributing to health and leadership outcomes in India, Nepal, Timor-Leste and Sri Lanka.
t in countries such as Nepal, Indonesia, Laos, India and Timor-Leste.
Source: SBS
