Following Harmony Day on 21 March, Minister for Sport Kate Ellis has joined the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) in calling on sports to take action to be more inclusive of people from culturally diverse backgrounds. Several initiatives, including the first ever ASC Harmony Games and All Cultures online resource, have been planned that support the goals of Harmony Day.

Ms Ellis asked sporting groups across the nation to consider how they can better involve people from diverse cultural backgrounds. ‘Sport can break down social barriers, provides great health benefits and helps foster a more inclusive society,’ Ms Ellis said.

To celebrate Harmony Day and highlight the role of sport in bringing people from all cultures together, the ASC is holding the first ever Harmony Games event at the Australian Institute of Sport. Staff will be dressing in traditional clothing from a country of their choice to play fun and inclusive games.

Last month the Minister for Sport also launched All Cultures, a new ASC online resource that aims to help sporting groups engage more people from culturally diverse backgrounds.

‘We’re seeing that [people from culturally diverse backgrounds] are two thirds less likely to be out there participating in sport. We know that sport is an essential part of the Australian way of life and we want to make sure that migrants get to play a role in that,’ Ms Ellis said.

The new All Cultures resource includes videos detailing existing multicultural sport programs, and useful tips for clubs, coaches and officials. The website complements the existing ASC All Cultures education programs and ambassador-led awareness program.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship, which administrators Harmony Day, is working closely with the Australian Sports Commission to promote the All Cultures resource to schools and community groups.

Find out more about the initiative on the Harmony Day website.