Melbourne United to host The Multicultural Game

Written by Melbourne United Media

Melbourne United is proud to announce The Multicultural Game will be held in Round 16 against the Adelaide 36ers.

Taking place on March 20 at the family-friendly time of 1pm, United will once again showcase the diversity and multinational cultures of Melbourne at John Cain Arena.

The Multicultural Game was first launched last season, but with disruptions from the pandemic the game was delayed, and eventually relocated to be played in Sydney as part of the Semi Final series. To embrace the theme of the game, the team wore a bespoke jersey that integrated the flags of the countries that were represented within the Melbourne United Basketball Club’s players, coaches and staff. 

Flags from 11 different countries were included within the design, with a small motif of the flag that best represents each player’s background is also included within their numbers on the back of their jerseys. The team were so proud of what the jersey represented, that they chose to wear the uniform for the finals series and ended up winning the championship in it.

Melbourne United believes that through the power of basketball, the club can help to bring the many cultures of Melbourne together. Highly valuing inclusion and multiculturalism, the club is excited to host the first Multicultural Game at John Cain Arena in front of the best home fans in the league.

The team will again wear a bespoke jersey, with the design integrating the flags of the nations within this season’s playing group.

The jerseys worn by the Melbourne United players will be auctioned off with all proceeds going toward one of our charity partners, Helping Hoops. Helping Hoops provide free community-based basketball programs to children and young adults, who are often from migrant or refugee backgrounds, live in inner-city public housing estates, have an intellectual disability or special needs, or are socioeconomically disadvantaged in some way.

Embracing multiculturalism is something Melbourne has prioritised over its existence, as highlighted by its partnership with the Racism. It Stops With Me campaign, as well as its want to share the stories of our players' cultures.

Melbourne United CEO Nick Truelson spoke about his excitement ahead of the game.

“One of the things that struck me most walking into Melbourne United six months ago was the wonderful sense of community on and off court,” he said.

“The club’s Racism. It Stops With Me campaign in 2021 was one of the most powerful campaigns around multiculturalism over the last 12 months and we are so proud to be again leading the way with our Multicultural themed game on Sun the 20^th of March at JCA.

“When you come into Hoop City you see the national flags of all of our players hanging from the roof, it shows the globalisation of basketball within our walls.

“We think we are helping to play our role in inspiring the next generation of multicultural kids to follow in the footsteps of our players like Jo Lual Acuil Jr, David Okwera, Caleb Agada, Ariel Hukporti, Shea Ili, Dion Prewster and Matthew Dellavedova.”

The game will take place in the midst of the Victorian Government’s Cultural Diversity Week, which is celebrating the theme of ‘Connecting Through Culture’.

Activities will take place outside of John Cain Arena that will tie into The Multicultural Game theme.

Tickets are on sale NOW and are available here. Three and five game membership packages also remain available here.