A new government sports program is aiming to conduct diplomacy through sport.
The $4 million Asia Sports Program (ASP) will provide sporting programs in countries throughout Asia over two years.
The first $2 million will go to 10 Australian sporting organisations who will use sport to promote community health, social inclusion, and youth participation in eight Asian countries.
The sports include football, badminton, cricket, hockey, table tennis and tennis and programs will be carried out in countries such as Nepal, Indonesia, Laos, India and Timor-Leste.
"Whether they're parents learning about nutrition through playing basketball in Timor Leste, or school children improving with their help by playing football in India or communities coming together by playing netball in Sri Lanka, Australia will be using its expertise in sport to make a difference," Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said.
Representatives from cricket, netball and football were at Sydney's Kiribilli House on Wednesday to launch the partnership, which will also focus on gender equality, disability inclusion and peace building.
"This is our region, our neighbourhood, our part of the world where we can make the biggest difference," Ms Bishop said.
Netball Australia plans to deliver programs to increase sport participation levels among girls and women by contributing to health and leadership outcomes in India, Nepal, Timor-Leste and Sri Lanka.
"This program will allow Netball Australia and our partners to engage thousands of women in positive, supportive environments that provide the opportunity and encourage them to get active, build networks and practice their leadership skills," Netball Australia chief executive Kate Palmer said in a statement.
“The community development team at Netball Australia has a wealth of experience in establishing high-quality, high-impact sport for development programs and we’re excited to share this expertise with our closest neighbours.”
Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera was at Kiribilli House for the awarding of a $200,000 grant to Netball Australia to go towards the programs.
As in Australia, netball is the most popular sport played by women and girls in Sri Lanka since it was introduced in 1921.
It is hoped through some of Australia's elite athletes, many of whom double as role models, the ASP will act as a key part of Australia's links with people from nations in the Indo-Pacific region.
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