PAFC to kick new goals for SA in Wang Wang, Funi’s homeland
ANOTHER black and white (and teal) connection - potentially worth millions - is being forged between SA and China’s Sichuan region, the birthplace of Adelaide Zoo residents and Australia’s only giant pandas Wang Wang and Funi.
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ANOTHER black and white (and teal) connection - potentially worth millions - is being forged between SA and China’s Sichuan region, the birthplace of Adelaide Zoo residents and Australia’s only giant pandas Wang Wang and Funi.
The Port Adelaide Football Club has received $60,000 funding from the Australia China Council, an arm of the Federal Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to extend its footy program into schools in the Sichuan province.
The seed funding, which is being matched by private sponsors, especially in China, will allow the club to run the schools-based program in the region until 2020.
Power Footy features two components: a weekly football lesson delivered as an after school activity or as part of the physical education curriculum and a series of digital materials which describe and explain Australia’s history, culture and lifestyle, delivered through Wechat groups to participating students.
Wang Wang and Funi, who are on loan to the zoo until 2019, were born at the Woolong Giant Panda Research Centre in Sichuan. They arrived here in November 2009 as part of a joint research and breeding program and were welcomed by then Premier Mike Rann, who defended the $19 million funding to the zoo for upgrades and other support and spoke widely of the economic benefits the move would unlock.
PAFC’s China Engagement general manager Andrew Hunter said the program uses the sport of Australian rules football as “an instrument of intercultural exchange” between the two countries.
“An agreement is now being discussed that would potentially result in 100 Power Footy graduates going to the University of Adelaide each year.
“The economic impact for South Australia of such a deal would be in the vicinity of $13 million,” Mr Hunter said.
University of Adelaide’s executive dean Professor Christopher Findlay described Power Footy as “a tremendous conduit” for cultural exchange and improved understanding.
“The Adelaide Business School is delighted to see the Power Footy program expand into Sichuan.
“The expansion into new provinces will open new doors and introduce fresh contacts and talent. All this has the potential for innovative business and economic ideas and outcomes for our state,” Professor Findlay said.
Power Footy is currently available to 4000 students in 21 schools in China’s Shanghai, Guangdong Province and Anhui Province.
The club wants to expand the program to 100 schools in China by 2020, the 150th anniversary of the club, as it continues to build on its engagement with the country.
Port Adelaide Football Club is the only AFL club actively promoting footy and building sponsorship ties directly in China.
In May this year, Shanghai backer, real estate tycoon Gui Guojie, announced a multimillion dollar boost for the club’s strategy, which will see it run at least until 2023.
Mr Hunter said the club stayed involved with the students when they came to Adelaide, providing a “more rounded, authentic experience” for Chinese students studying in Adelaide.
“They can interact with the club (and take up) internships and job opportunities through our partner network,” he said.
The club will expand the program to schools in the Zhejiang Province in the 2018-2019 Chinese school year.