Indigenous Australian sport facts for kids
Indigenous Australian sport has a unique history. When British settlers arrived, they often discouraged the traditional sports played by Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders. These Indigenous people also faced unfair treatment, called discrimination, when they wanted to play popular Australian sports like cricket or soccer. Some European sports were brought into Indigenous communities. The idea was to help people mix with and become more like the wider Australian culture.
Indigenous Australians and Modern Sports
The British settlers did not encourage Indigenous Australians to keep their traditional sports alive. Instead, Aboriginal people often faced discrimination when they tried to play mainstream Australian sports. Sports like cricket, rugby, netball, soccer, and field hockey were introduced. The goal was to help Aboriginal people socialise and fit into the wider Australian culture. Cricket, for example, was sometimes used to teach what were called "white values."
While sports have offered some chances for Aboriginal people, they haven't always helped communities as a whole. Indigenous Australian men have often been under-represented in top-level sports. However, there have been some big exceptions. These include Australian rules football, boxing, and rugby league.
A Look at History
The Aboriginal Sports Foundation was created in 1969. This group aimed to support Indigenous athletes. The first National Aboriginal Sports Awards were given out in 1986. During National Aborigines' Day in 1986, more than 70 Indigenous Australians were celebrated for their achievements in sports.
In 1990, a new competition began called the International Aboriginal Cup. This was a women's competition. It brought together Aboriginal Australians and First Nations Canadians to play against each other.
At the 1994 Commonwealth Games, a famous moment happened. After winning her race, Cathy Freeman carried both the Australian and Aboriginal flags. This showed pride in both her country and her heritage.
Sport in the Community
Indigenous Australian athletes often feel pressure to be role models. They are seen as examples for their wider community.
In 2001, most Indigenous communities (with 50 or more people) had access to sports facilities. Aboriginal Australians were drawn to sports like athletics (running and jumping) and swimming. This was partly because these sports had parts that reminded them of their own traditional games. Old traditional sports included throwing a boomerang and various types of running.
Most Indigenous sports before Europeans arrived were just for fun. These traditional sports were not adopted into European sports. As a result, many Indigenous sporting traditions began to disappear. This happened at the same time other Indigenous traditions were also fading.
The Australian Sports Commission has worked to save knowledge about these old Indigenous sporting traditions. One important historical event was in 1868. An all-Australian Aboriginal team toured England to play cricket.
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