Indigenous sporting events: More than just a game.

Abstract

The Annual Sports and Cultural Festival is an Indigenous sporting and cultural event that has been held annually in Brisbane, Queensland since 1993. The event aims to provide an opportunity for the Indigenous community of Brisbane to gather, celebrate and reconnect with family and friends, while sharing and showcasing Indigenous culture, art, music and sporting prowess to the wider community. Research was undertaken to determine the extent to which the festival generates positive socio-cultural impacts. The results showed that the festival provides a forum for the community to come together, strengthening social networks and relationships in a positive environment where the emphasis is on sport and sharing and renewing culture. This paper provides an overview of the festival and outlines the research results. The opportunities for Indigenous communities to engage in recreational sporting opportunities and concurrently, achieve socio-cultural outcomes are considered within the framework of a new research agenda for Indigenous sports events.