Essendon Football Club is pleased to announce that the Victorian Government is supporting the multicultural GLoBALL program.

Established in 2009 by the Essendon Football Club, GLoBALL is now jointly supported by Cricket Victoria and Netball Victoria to provide international students with free access to premium Victorian sporting events throughout the year.

GLoBALL enables international students to meet Victorians who, as GLoBALL ambassadors, will introduce students to the sports and make them welcome in Victoria. International students are also offered opportunities to connect with local cricket, netball and football sporting clubs.

Essendon Football Club Interim Chief Executive Officer Ray Gunston said it remained important to provide opportunities for international students to engage with the wider community.

“The GLoBALL program was established to develop opportunities to engage people from diverse cultural backgrounds in the game of Australian football with the view to broaden both the participation and supporter base in the game,” Gunston said.

“GLoBALL aims to promote a sense of belonging and social inclusion while celebrating diversity in our community.”

Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business, Louise Asher, today said Victorian Coalition Government involvement would enable the popular GLoBALL initiative to continue until January 2014.

“GLoBALL provides international students with free access to matches involving the Melbourne Vixens netball team and the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades cricket teams and the Essendon Football Club,” Ms Asher said.

“Sporting events are a vital part of Australia’s cultural heritage, and providing international students with a positive match day experience is a tremendous way to make them feel part of the community.  It is also a great way to reinforce Melbourne’s reputation as the sporting capital of the world.”

Essendon’s first GLoBALL game will be held next Friday night when the club faces Carlton at the MCG for the Round 11 blockbuster. Tickets, through GLoBALL, are still available. International students can join the GLoBALL program by clicking here.