Australia is well known for its rich sporting heritage. The country has produced world champions in tennis, women’s basketball, skiing, hockey, swimming, boxing, rugby and cricket. Australia boasts world class facilities that have seen it host two Olympic Games. The calendar of international sporting events that take place in Australia each year includes horse races, grand prix racing cars and a tennis grand slam tournament. So if you are applying for immigration to Australia you are likely to find at least one sport that interests you and your family.
Australia hosted the Olympics in 1956 and 2000. In the 2000 Olympic Games, over 67 nations participated in the games and a total of 3000 athletes. In 2006 Australia hosted another major sporting event – the 18th Commonwealth Games. The 2006 event was and is still considered the most successful Commonwealth Games due to the wide media coverage and the number of tickets sold. Australia hosted the Rugby World Cup in 2003.
You cannot speak about great tennis nations without mentioning Australia. Not only has Australia produced some of the game’s greats, it hosts one of the 4 Grand Slam events – the Australian Open. The open is held at the Rod Laver Arena and runs over two weeks in the month of January each year. The Rod Lever Arena has 5 tennis courts. The Australian Open attracts up to half a million spectators over the two weeks with a global television audience that numbers tens of millions.
The Formula One Grand Prix is another huge event in the country and attracts up to 300,000 spectators. It takes place in Melbourne’s Albert Park. Overall, sport is strongly embedded in Australian culture with 70% of persons over the age of 15 years playing at least one form of sport a week. It is not only big business but also helps foster a sense of community and national unity. This role of unity is particularly important given Australia’s multi-cultural and multi-racial society.
Sport breaks down barriers in the community that would otherwise be difficult to overcome and is helping create a more cohesive society. Sports are a major driving force in Australia economy through hosting of major international games which bring many international tourists. Since sports are carried out social events they help bring people together that enforce the county’s cultural and social fabric. Sport in Australia is governed by the Australian and Sports Commission.
Other than sport, Australians value hard work and believe in doing something to the best of your ability. Little wonder that the country boasts some of the best academic institutions in the world. Save for Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders that have been on the continent for thousands of years, every other race in the country is the product of immigration that took place in the 19th and 20th Century. This is why the typical Australian community is a mix of different cultures. However, since the English were the majority in the first waves of immigrants many practices have their roots in English tradition.
In line with Australia’s strong belief in protecting the underdog, the country has a strong and politically influential labor union movement. The unions ensure that employers adhere to fair work laws, abide by minimum wage laws and foster a safe working environment for employees.
References:
http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/sporting_events.html
http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/sporting_excellence.html
http://www.actu.org.au/HelpDesk/YourRightsfactsheets/default.aspx
