Socceroos help spread Aussie influence in Asia

CANBERRA: Buoyed by its World Cup qualification, Australia is looking at using soccer to push its foreign policy and win acceptance in Asia.

A study this week suggested the game - rocketing in popularity in Asia and Australia - could open important new doors, develop links in trade and politics, turn public opinion Australia's way and even assist in the fight against HIV/Aids.

The Lowy Institute think-tank based its report on a seminar last month drawing together specialists on soccer, foreign policy commentators and regional affairs.

Australia was admitted into the Asian Football Confederation this year and the Lowry report concludes that the significance of Australia at the World Cup in Germany goes beyond the football field.

"This new sporting relationship with Asia will add an often missing popular dimension to Australia's relations with neighbours and create new opportunities," Lowry said.

Researcher Anthony Bubalo's paper follows the joy over the Socceroos' World Cup qualifier, which was watched by an estimated 8.5 millions Australians - 51 per cent of the adult population - and research showing soccer to be Australia's most popular team sport.

Asian enthusiasm is also rising. Japan and South Korea co-hosted the 2002 Cup, Thailand tried to buy Liverpool, and 300 million Chinese watched last year's Asian Cup final.

Bubalo says that Australia's membership of the AFC, while not automatically making Australia any more Asian than the Gulf countries it also includes, provides the chance to directly use football as a instrument of foreign policy.

Korea and Japan more recently set aside traditional enmities to co-host the World Cup, and at the 2003 Asean summit China, Japan and South Korea included football in a plan to boost people-to-people links.

Bubalo says Australian diplomats could build ties with the political and business leaders who head many Asian football unions.

"Taking Asian visiting dignitaries to football matches in Australia, rather than sports such as Australian Rules, also has the benefit of emphasising the commonalities between Australia and Asia rather than the differences," Bubalo says.

Australia's place in Asian football could also win new markets, boost travel and tourism, and help defeat HIV/Aids, he said.

"Coming from footballers rather than officials or doctors, the Aids awareness message is more palatable and less patronising," he said.