Beyond Sport, the global organisation that promotes, develops and funds the use of sport to drive positive social change across the world, is delighted to unveil the Shortlist for the Beyond Sport Awards 2010 of which the Australian Rules Football League - Multicultural Program has been nominated.

These shortlisted projects were chosen from over 350 entries from more than 115 countries that submitted applications to this year’s Awards.

By reaching this stage of the judging process, each project will receive an invitation to attend the second annual Beyond Sport Summit, taking place between September 27-30 in Chicago.

Thanks to the unique support and goodwill of Beyond Sport’s Global Airline Partner United Airlines, representatives from these projects will be flown from all over world to attend the prestigious Summit in Chicago.

With four months to go until the 2010 event, the Summit already boasts an impressive line-up of speakers including HRH Prince Faisal Al Hussein of Jordan; Rita LeBlanc, owner of NFL SuperBowl champions the New Orleans Saints; Jérôme Valcke, FIFA Secretary General; and two-time Women's World Cup winner and former US soccer captain Julie Foudy. Further speaker announcements will be made in the coming weeks.

“This is a terrific endorsement of the investment the AFL and partners have made towards the AFL Multicultural Program,” said Jason Mifsud, AFL National Community Engagement Manager.

“The program has had wonderful support from the Federal Government, Victorian Government, AFL Victoria, AFL NSW ACT and partner AFL clubs Western Bulldogs, Essendon, Richmond, Hawthorn, Collingwood, Carlton and North Melbourne”.

Throughout the Summit, the shortlisted projects will have the opportunity to interact with Beyond Sport's extensive network of corporate business, government, philanthropy, international aid organisations and sporting federations, all with the ability to significantly impact the reach and capabilities of the sport and development movement.

Winners of the Awards, to be selected by the panel of Beyond Sport Ambassadors, will be announced on the final two days of the Summit. The successful projects in the six Beyond Sport Community Awards categories will receive $10,000 each and a substantial package of business support to help them grow and become sustainable in the future.

“In August this year the AFL Multicultural Program will celebrate its 5 years of successful community engagement,” said Nick Hatzoglou, AFL Multicultural Project Coordinator.

“The Beyond Sport nomination is a delightful way to celebrate this wonderful milestone”.