PA/13/12 1 May 2012
Australian Minister for Sport reaches out to underprivileged children
Australia's Minister for Sport, Senator Kate Lundy, met children taking part in an Australian funded sports program in Nizamuddin East, Bhogal today (1 May 2012). The Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP) aims to give underprivileged children the opportunity to participate in organised sport.
Today’s event was designed to demonstrate sports coaching, mentoring and life skills through games, and involved 20 children from the Magic Bus program and 20 children from Naz’ Goal program together with their respective coaches. Senator Lundy met the children and their parents and watched the children take part in a game of handball.
Senator Lundy said “The Australian Government is very supportive of engagement through sport. Both Australia and India share a great love for sport, which can be a great platform for further strengthening the bilateral ties.”
“The Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP) is a great way for the Australian Government and the Australian Sports Commission to demonstrate the many benefits of participation in sport, including how important sport can be for social inclusion. The motivation for ASOP is to deliver sports programs to children who would otherwise not have an opportunity to play sport.”
The Minister went on to say “Sport is far more than sum of its parts. It is about children learning about themselves, teamwork and team spirit, and engaging in physical activity.”
“I am impressed at how Magic Bus Foundation is delivering sports initiatives here in India as part of the sports outreach program. I feel proud to be Australia’s Minister for Sport and witness how this program targets the marginalised members of society - women, poor and disabled - at a grassroots level to provide them access to sport”, she added.
The ASOP aims to build the capacity of NGOs to deliver sports programs to underprivileged members of society. The Australian Government has committed $5 million (from 2010 to 2014) to deliver ASOP in India.
Senator Kate Lundy with children at the sports event in New Delhi on 1 May