Sydney, Tribune International (Report by Syed Atiq ul Hassan); Football fever continues to build in Sydney with the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ Unity Pitch setting up home at Yulang, Sydney Olympic Park for the next five days.
Coinciding with Female Football Week taking place across NSW, and with only 62 days until the tournament kicks off, the Unity Pitch provides an opportunity to celebrate the FIFA Women’s World Cup coming to Sydney.
A vibrant multi coloured pitch reflecting the two unique cultures of Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand and the coming together of the 32 nations participating in the tournament, the pitch will be very much at home in our lively and multicultural city.
Whether it’s a training session, team building exercise or social kick with friends, the Unity Pitch will bring communities together in anticipation of the world’s largest women’s sporting event, which kicks off on 20 July.
The Unity Pitch was unveiled in Sydney almost a year ago and, after travelling around to the other host cities, has made its return to the scene of the final at Sydney Olympic Park.
The Unity Pitch will be in Sydney Olympic Park from 19-23 May, with grassroots football teams and community groups participating in a range of activities. The pitch will also be open to the public for free throughout the week.
For further information and up to date details about the Unity Pitch and Trophy Tour activities in NSW, please visit www.sport.nsw.gov.au/fifawwc
Premier, Chris Minns said:
“The opportunity to witness the best female footballers from around the world battle it out on our home soil over 64 games during July and August will captivate Australian football fans and inspire the next generation of Matildas.”
“The NSW Government is incredibly proud to support this significant, history-making event, working in unity with FIFA, the Local FIFA Subsidiary and a range of local partners to showcase Sydney to the world and deliver a long-lasting legacy to our community.”
NSW Minister for Sport, Steve Kamper said:
“Over the next few days we’ll get a taste of the power of sport to bring people together. The Unity Pitch represents everything that sport is about. An inclusive space for everyone to use and participate. It will bring fans together as we prepare to welcome the world to Sydney for the world’s largest women’s sporting event.”
“It shows that major sporting events aren’t just for elite athletes, they also provide opportunities to grow the grassroots side of the game.”
“I look forward to seeing how communities use the pitch in a way that means the most to them.”
NSW Minister for Women, Jodie Harrison said:
“With the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 on the doorstep of Sydney, the Unity Pitch adds another level of anticipation in the lead up to this historic tournament.”
“The opening of the Unity Pitch in Sydney comes as our state celebrates Female Football week and I am honoured to be joined by some of the amazing players and people who have contributed to the legacy of women’s football across New South Wales. Events like these show how our state continues to lead the way in creating a brighter future for women in sport.”
“The thousands of football fans we’ll see on the pitch this week is a great precursor to the Trophy Tour in June before the highly anticipated Matildas v Republic of Ireland match at Stadium Australia right here in Sydney Olympic Park”
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Australia and New ZealandTM COO (Australia), Jane Fernandez, said:
“We are delighted the iconic FIFA Women’s World Cup Unity Pitch will finish its tour of the host cities in Sydney.”
“The Unity Pitch was unveiled in Sydney almost a year ago and since then has travelled to all nine host cities, with 1000s of participants from local communities in Australia and New Zealand embracing the opportunity to be part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
“We cannot wait for its last showing at Sydney Olympic Park, which will also host the most unforgettable FIFA Women’s World Cup Final ever.”
Football Australia CEO, James Johnson said:
“Today marks the start of Female Football Week, a national initiative to profile women and girls in football at every level of the game across the nation and just one of many important levers to drive 50/50 equity in participation.”
“Hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup provides a once in a lifetime opportunity to level the playing field and through the NSW Legacy Fund we are already seeing the legacy coming to life with over 100 community infrastructure and participation grants being funded through phase one of the program.
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