JOY BLOG

19 Jul 2013

JOY 94.9 Live Broadcast from the MCG – Sunday August 4

The AFL is pleased to announce Melbourne Community Radio station JOY 94.9 will broadcast outside the MCG prior to the Collingwood v Essendon match on Sunday August 4.

The AFL industry including the AFLPA, players, umpires, clubs and more will discuss programs that are designed to create a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for all participants and supporters of the game.

There are a number of programs and initiatives that exist across all levels of the game that highlight this commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion including:

Multicultural and Indigenous Programs
Opportunities for women and girls to play and be involved in football
The ongoing growth of AFL 9s as an alternative to traditional football
AFLPA’s Footy for IDAHO campaign

Guests will include Peter Gourlay from the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, Grant Williams from AFL Victoria, Chris Johnson from the AFL and captain of the Melbourne FC women’s team Daisy Pearce.

AFL Chief Executive Andrew Demetriou said the joint initiative provides an opportunity to highlight the AFL’s social inclusion statement and vilification policy.

“The AFL is a game that everyone can enjoy. From the elite level to community competitions, we want to ensure all those involved in Australian football feel safe and included. The broadcast will give us the opportunity to talk about how we are doing that while tackling issues such as homophobia,” Mr Demetriou said.

“The AFL has a long track record in promoting a welcoming and inclusive environment in football and we remain committed to this objective as part of everyday business. We also recognise the influence the AFL can wield in shifting community attitudes and raising awareness of important social issues. The AFL supports diversity and respectful relationships at all levels of the sport and through our policies and actions we do not tolerate discrimination of any kind”.

“To reflect this commitment, in 2009 we expanded our existing rule relating to on-field racial and religious vilification to also prohibit vilification on the basis of sexual orientation, preference or identity. This rule was established to send a clear message that such behaviour is not acceptable. The AFL remains steadfast in its belief that vilification based on sexual identity is just as serious an offence as vilification based on race, religion, colour, origin or special disability.”

JOY President David McCarthy said the AFL and JOY 94.9 are synonymous with Melbourne culture.

“It’s wonderful to see these two institutions come together again for an outside broadcast that highlights the progress the AFL is continuing to make in regards to inclusion and diversity and the importance of using JOY as a key medium to convey this,” he said.

JOY General Manager Conrad Browne said it’s important the GLBTI community broadcaster is able to work alongside an institution like the AFL.

“To have the opportunity to broadcast from the MCG allows the station to bring issues such as homophobia in sport, inclusion and diversity to the forefront in a setting that encourages an open and productive dialogue,” he said.

The JOY 94.9 OB will be located between gates 1 and 2 outside the MCG on Sunday August 4 between 2pm and 4pm.

It will be the second broadcast the AFL and JOY 94.9 have joined forces to produce.

For more information contact:

Conrad Browne
JOY 94.9 General Manager 0488 445 949 / gm@joy.org.au