Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers lives footy dream with Port Adelaide in China

OLYMPIC swimming champion Kyle Chalmers will live his dream to get a kick with the Port Adelaide Football Club — in Shanghai.

Australian swimmer Kyle Chalmers is seen passing an AFL football with children during a visit to a primary school in Shanghai, China.

OLYMPIC swimming champion Kyle Chalmers will live his dream to get a kick with the Port Adelaide Football Club — in Shanghai.

Chalmers will have the “first kick” in the Power’s pre-match routine that has a former Port Adelaide player have a shot at goal before the first bounce at Adelaide Oval.

NEWS: NEW DEAL CHARGES POWER’S CHINA ADVENTURE

MATCH: POWER WARY OF Sun STROKE

Chalmers will break tradition at the start of the Power-Gold Coast game at Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai on Saturday. Never before has the honour been handed to a non-footballer.

“He is doing it before I get asked,” said Chalmers’ father, Brett who played 120 SANFL and 25 AFL games for Port Adelaide.

Kyle Chalmers represented Port Adelaide and South Australia as the Power extended their football clinics in Shanghai schools.

“It is awesome I get to use my profile for football rather than swimming,” Chalmers told The Advertiser.

“I’m obsessed with the Port Adelaide Football Club,” added Chalmers, a club ambassador.

“It was always my dream to play for Port Adelaide — and the club is still my No. 1 passion.”

Australian swimmer Kyle Chalmers is promoting the game in China.

Chalmers on Friday joined SA Premier Steve Marshall in promoting Port Adelaide’s school programs at a Shanghai school.

“It is awesome Port Adelaide is one step ahead of other AFL clubs to get the AFL on the international stage,” Chalmers said.

“I am fortunate to have the opportunity to be overseas competing. It is awesome the Port Adelaide players get the same chance now.”

Chalmers’ school appearance was coupled with Marshall’s first trip to China.

They were both key figures in the Port Adelaide Football Club revealing its goal to take its game-development programs from the current 21 to a target of 100 schools in Shanghai and the surrounding areas by 2020.

Mr Marshall announced Port Adelaide will broaden its “Power Footy” clinics in Shanghai schools with a new, wider-reaching program called “Power Footy Study Tours”.

This program goes beyond football clinics to include education and tourism that connects Australian and Chinese students. It will work in co-ordination with the University of Adelaide and Australian Nutrition and Sports.

Chen Shaoliang (left) and Kyle Chalmers give Shanghai students some tips on handball technique.

The first tour for Chinese students will be in July. They will be introduced to the University of Adelaide campus, English-immersion classes and AFL football with Port Adelaide’s home gam at the Adelaide Oval against Greater Western Sydney on Sunday, July 22.

Mr Marshall praised Port Adelaide for building on a key part of SA’s new economy with international students.

“Growth in Chinese international student numbers from 8,095 enrolments in 2013 to 15,365 enrolments in 2017, with economic yield grown from an estimated $277.9 million to well in excess of $500 million over the period, shows how important international education is to South Australia,” he said.

[e-mail]

MORE PORT ADELAIDE NEWS