EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA AMMAN AMBASSADOR
Only 100 days to go – AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015
In just 100 days, millions of people worldwide will begin cheering on their teams in the hope they win the ultimate prize – the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.
Sixteen of the best football teams from across the Asian Football Confederation will gather in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and Newcastle to challenge for AFC glory.
For Australia, hosting the Asian Cup is not just a national sporting honour, but also an opportunity to celebrate our enduring bilateral relationship with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Although, when the Australian Socceroos play Kuwait in Melbourne in January next year to kick off the AFC tournament, it will be more than this honour and success at stake. We want to celebrate our place in the region through our culture, our shared love of sport and our ongoing trade and investment ties.
Through ‘Match Australia’, the Australian Government’s international sports business program for the 2015 AFC Asian Football Cup, we are connecting Australian businesses with global partners.
Match Australia will use the AFC Asian Cup as the platform to highlight both Australian and Jordanian capabilities, and develop business opportunities across trade, investment, education and tourism. We look forward to welcoming business leaders from the region to participate in business matching programs during the tournament.
Australia’s membership in the Asian Football Confederation has forged a sporting relationship with many Asian and Middle Eastern countries. The 2015 Asian Football Cup will showcase these relationships, the talents of all 16 competing countries and inspire future generations of players.
That’s why I am looking forward to cheering on both Australia and Jordan in next year’s Asian Football Cup.
If you’re lucky enough to be heading to Australia to watch the Asian Cup, I encourage you to head to www.immi.gov.au and www.jordan.embassy.gov.au to read up on the latest immigration and visa requirements.
To register your interest in the Match Australia International Sports Business program, contact your local Australian Embassy or visit www.austrade.gov.au/matchaustralia.
Australia looks forward to welcoming all its friends to celebrate the AFC Asian Cup in 2015.
Heidi Venamore PSM