Sydney Swans defender Aliir Aliir has helped officially launched the 2016 AFL Multicultural Round today at the Female Orphan School in the Parramatta campus of Western Sydney University.

The Toyota AFL Multicultural Round highlights the contribution different communities have made to Australian Football, while highlighting the extraordinary power the game has in uniting all people of all backgrounds.

Aliir said it was important to reflect on the importance of Australian rules football in bringing different cultures together.

“This round is to celebrate how different cultures come together so to be able to add my culture to that is special,” Aliir said.

“This is a great game and it brings everyone together so that is why we are here to celebrate Multicultural Round.”

The AFL Multicultural Round launch event was hosted by journalist Angela Pippos who led a panel discussion with New South Wales Multicultural Minister, John Ajaka, Western Sydney Hip Hop artist L-FRESH The LION and CEO of Community Hubs Australia Sonja Hood.

AFL Ambassador and former Hawthorn player, Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico, also hosted a Q&A session with Stephen Coniglio and Aliir Aliir.

Aliir is an AFL Multicultural ambassador playing a key role in assisting with the AFL NSW Multicultural strategy through appearances at key events.

Thanks to Telstra, all nine matches across Round 16 of the Toyota AFL Multicultural Round will be broadcast in one of seven languages available on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live App.

The Swans clash against Geelong will be commentated in Greek with Timothy Dionyssopoulos and Nick Thodos calling the action.

Highlights of the 2016 AFL Multicultural Round

  • The AFL Umpires will have the word ‘UMPIRE’ translated into one of six languages and printed on their uniform
  • Orange flags will be used by the AFL goal umpires at all matches signifying harmony
  • The Sherrin match balls with have the word ‘WELCOME’ printed in six different languages
  • Bi-lingual ’50’ on each of the 50m arcs at all of the matches across the round, correlating to the language theme for the game
  • Thousands of new fans and communities will experience live AFL action for the first time through the AFL MyPassport program where free tickets have been made available and supported by Australia Post.