Round 18 of the Australian Football League (AFL) premiership is seeking to celebrate the contribution of multicultural communities at all levels of the game through a dedicated weekend that will include numerous activities across the country.

Among the ‘Many Cultures, One Game' initiatives the premiership CEO Gillon McLachlan highlights the national campaign My Passport to Australian Football to encourage new fans to enjoy the experience of attending an AFL match.

Sport enthusiasts holding an international passport will be able to gain free entry to a game this. Over 25,000 tickets will be offered to tourists, immigrants and other fans with international citizenship.

"Australian Football has the extraordinary power to bring people together regardless of background," said Gillon McLachlan.

"The AFL is committed to reflecting Australia's cultural diversity, providing an environment which welcomes people from all backgrounds to enjoy our game as supporters, players, umpires or administrators.

"There are so many amazing stories to share of fans from all backgrounds who show extraordinary dedication to the game because they just love footy. We want to thank our passionate fans for their contribution and show the great impact they are having on the future of our game. "

The multicultural round will also include a marketing campaign across TV, print and digital media; an AFL match broadcast in Mandarin,; multicultural performances on field at AFL games; and players from multicultural backgrounds tossing the coin; among others.

AFL's indigenous role model
On the weekend, the AFL player Adam Goodes cemented his place as one of Australia’s most premier indigenous role models when he broke the games record for any indigenous footballer to play the game.

In January, Goodes was named Australian of the Year in recognition of his leadership and dedication to the Indigenous community.

The 34 year-old, who has been subjected to racist abuse in several matches of the AFL premiership, has been using his recent position and influence to speak out about prejudice and discrimination against indigenous Australians and inspire the next generations of players across the game.