by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago
Initial talks for a footy match began last year when Andrew Demetriou traveled to Dubai to open negotiations. Talks have continued and a deal is nearly done to have Collingwood and Adelaide play an exhibition game in Dubai next February. The league has been working to sign sponsors for the game and have been working closely with the Australian Consul General in Dubai. And Dubai officials will see to the building of an oval suitable for Aussie Rules. This is something which the Dubai government has been considering anyway - a multi-use venue which could serve both professional and community sport.
There are currently over 15,000 Australians living in the United Arab Emirates; some have even tried to organize footy teams, but that ambition is hindered by the lack of a suitable ground for playing as well as triple-digit temperatures.
Gillon McLachlan, Chief Broadcasting and Commercial Officer of the AFL, said new markets such as Dubai would provide a way of bringing sport and business together. Collingwood was an obvious choice due to their sponsorship deal with Air Emirates, which has sponsored the club since 1999 when the airline first began service to Australia.
Source: gulfnews.com
Initial talks for a footy match began last year when Andrew Demetriou traveled to Dubai to open negotiations. Talks have continued and a deal is nearly done to have Collingwood and Adelaide play an exhibition game in Dubai next February. The league has been working to sign sponsors for the game and have been working closely with the Australian Consul General in Dubai. And Dubai officials will see to the building of an oval suitable for Aussie Rules. This is something which the Dubai government has been considering anyway - a multi-use venue which could serve both professional and community sport.
There are currently over 15,000 Australians living in the United Arab Emirates; some have even tried to organize footy teams, but that ambition is hindered by the lack of a suitable ground for playing as well as triple-digit temperatures.
Gillon McLachlan, Chief Broadcasting and Commercial Officer of the AFL, said new markets such as Dubai would provide a way of bringing sport and business together. Collingwood was an obvious choice due to their sponsorship deal with Air Emirates, which has sponsored the club since 1999 when the airline first began service to Australia.
Source: gulfnews.com
Article last changed on Monday, February 05, 2007 - 12:05 PM EST
