Melbourne Victory FC spread the harmony message to upwards of 40,000 people at the Viva Victoria Festival held at Federation Square on Sunday 24th March as part of Cultural Diversity Week.
Melbourne Victory FC spread the harmony message to upwards of 40,000 people at the Viva Victoria Festival held at Federation Square on Sunday 24th March as part of Cultural Diversity Week.
VIDEO: See Melbourne Victory at the Viva Victoria Festival
Cultural Diversity Week is a celebration of Victoria-s cultural, linguistic and religious diversity. The week is held annually to coincide with the United Nations Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March and in 2013 ran from 16 – 24 March. Cultural Diversity Week is run by the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC).
Melbourne Victory FC Players and staff attended the festival and a number of talented youngsters displayed their one and one football talents in “the Cage”
Viva Victoria is the largest multicultural event in Australia, showcasing over 70 different Melbourne communities and is a natural fit with Melbourne Victory who have over 15 different ancestries in their playing squad.
Melbourne Victory FC defender Scott Galloway said “I was really happy to be able to be a part of this year’s Viva Festival and it was great to see and meet so many Melbourne Victory fans, and new supporters, at Federation Square enjoying everything that was on offer – including a bit of football,”
Festival attendee 16 year old Jean Marie from Burundi said “Football means everything to me, it-s what I grew up with, it-s what I love. Football is growing in Australia and I look forward to cheering on Victory in the future”
Melbourne Victory FC-s involvement was also part of Football Federation Australia-s Harmony through Football Program proudly supported by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport, SBS, Department of Immigration and Citizenship and Red Elephant Projects.
The 2011 National Census revealed that Victoria is one of Australia-s fastest growing and most culturally diverse States.
At the 2011 Census, the total population of Victoria was 5,354,039 persons, an increase of 8.5 per cent compared to the 2006 Census.
Of these 5.3 million people, 26.2 per cent were born overseas in more than 200 countries and nearly half of all Victorians, 46.8 per cent, were born overseas or had at least one parent who was born overseas.
