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| Peace gets a second chance |
By JOSHUA LEVI
(The Australian Jewish News)
THE official ambassador for the 2011 AFL International Cup, Brett Kirk, said he took on the role after learning the Israeli-Palestinian Peres Peace Team will return to Australia.
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Speaking to The AJN at the launch of the tournament earlier this month, the retired Sydney Swans player said; “When I was first thinking about the role, I watched the documentary about the Peace Team and I was inspired by the way footy connected people and was used as a vehicle to bring people together.”
Kirk will travel to more than a dozen countries around the world, including Israel, America, China, India and South Africa, as he gives back to the game that he loves.
“No matter how much money you have or what religion you were raised, footy brings people together, and I knew I was doing the right thing after that documentary.
“I can’t wait to travel to Israel and meet the guys in the team.”
(Above) Brett Kirk and Tanya Oziel at the International Cup launch in December 2010.
Executive director of the Peres Centre for Peace in Australia Tanya Oziel has been the driving force behind the Peres Peace Team.
“After much consideration, we have realised there is enough commitment in the community and although the cost will be huge, we realise there is an important message to be spread and this is a sustainable program,” Oziel said.
She added that the players from the inaugural team in 2008 brought pride to themselves, their families and their cultures.
“We are again looking for 13 Israelis and 13 Palestinians to join the team. The most beautiful part is that the boys, who were strangers from two different sides of the conflict, still keep in touch and are friends now.”
AFL national and international development manager, David Matthews, announced last week that games will be held in Sydney for the first time.
“Sydney is the most international city in Australia and if we are going to have 1000 international visitors, they want to come to Sydney,” he said.
The first week of games will be held in the Harbour City, including a game at ANZ Stadium before a Swans match. The second week will be held in Melbourne.
He said that inviting the Peres Peace Team to return was an easy decision.
“The Peace Team is something we simply couldn’t refuse because it’s a cultural exchange, not just sport. People would be surprised to see it’s not just expat Australians. This game allows us to connect communities around the world.”
The 2011 AFL International Cup will be held from August 12-27, 2011.
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Posted on Dec 28, 2010 11:26am by admin
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