Adelaide will celebrate the power of diversity and community at Saturday night’s match against Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval, headlined by a special Australian citizenship ceremony to be held before the first bounce.
In a first for the Club, 50 people from across Adelaide’s western suburbs will officially become Australian citizens in a pre-game ceremony, delivered in partnership with the Department of Home Affairs as part of the AFL’s Cultural Heritage Series.
The Cultural Heritage Series is designed to celebrate the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Australian Football. Under the theme Many Cultures, One Game, the expanded league-wide initiative recognises the diverse backgrounds of fans, players, participants and communities across the game.
Saturday night’s match has been nominated as Adelaide’s Cultural Heritage Series home game, with a range of activities designed to celebrate inclusion, belonging and connection through football.
The citizenship ceremony will welcome new Australians from 16 countries who live within the City of West Torrens and City of Charles Sturt council areas. For around half of those taking part, it will also be their first experience attending an AFL match.
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and City of West Torrens Mayor Michael Coxon will attend the ceremony which will include guest speaker Bharat Sundarasen, with AFLW players also helping to welcome the new citizens and their families and friends.
Adelaide Football Club CEO Tim Silvers said the Club was proud to play a role in the initiative.
“Football has a unique ability to bring people together and create a sense of belonging,” Silvers said.
“It’s special to be able to share such an important milestone with 50 new Australian citizens, and we're proud to celebrate their journey.
“There’s no doubt our game is stronger because of the diversity of people who play it, support it and contribute to it.”
On Saturday the Club will also host around 200 international students at Adelaide Oval through a welcome event delivered in partnership with Adelaide University and Study Adelaide.
The initiative provides students with an opportunity to experience AFL football, hear from Crows players and connect with the local community while studying in South Australia.
Adding to the evening’s celebrations, approximately 80 students from culturally and linguistically diverse schools will take part in a special half-time Auskick exhibition, showcasing the next generation of football participants and highlighting the game’s growing reach across multicultural communities.
