Palestinian Sports Candidates farewelled by Australian Representative Office in Ramallah

The Australian Representative Office in Ramallah hosted a farewell lunch for the Palestinian candidates who will be participating in the inaugural Australian-Palestinian Sports Sector Exchange.

The exchange program, funded in part by the Council for Australian-Arab Relations (CAAR) is being organised and managed by Rise Global and is designed to support the development of the Palestinian sports sector, facilitate people to people links within the sector and promote Australia’s expertise in sport.

“Australia has one of the most advanced sports systems in the world” said Rise Global Managing Director, Michael Dahdal. “The visit to Australia by the candidates we hope will act as a catalyst in the Palestinians’ aspirations to develop sport in their own communities” he added.

The candidates were hosted by the Australian Representative Mr Tom Wilson and representative office staff in Ramallah, where they were wished well and asked to come back upon their return to share their stories and impressions of Australia and Australian sport. “Sport is highly valued in Australia, it’s an important part of our culture and we invest lots in the development of sport because we understand the important benefits sport can have in individuals and communities – across health, education and more,” said Mr Wilson.

“We wish you a pleasant experience in Australia and hope you can bring back lots of knowledge that will help aid the development of sport in your communities” he added.

The candidates are due to arrive in Sydney on 11 November and will be in Australia until20 November. During their visit, they will undertake formal training, embark on site visits of sports programs and facilities and meet members of the Palestinian-Australian and sporting communities. The tour will also include a visit to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.