- Sam Groth wants Australia Day to be celebrated in AO
- National Day on January 26 is always a divisive topic
- Pride Day will be recognized at the Open on January 24
Former Australian tennis star Sam Groth has called on tournament organizers at Melbourne Park to formally recognize Australia Day.
The men's final will be held on January 26 and, in addition to the action on the field at Rod Laver Arena, Groth wants the national day to be celebrated accordingly.
“Australia Day should be celebrated at the Australian Open,” the Victorian Liberal Party deputy leader said.
“I will be celebrating… and there is no better way to celebrate the best of Australia than with the eyes of the country and the world on our biggest sporting event.”
Despite Groth's plea, it is understood the celebration will be minimal: Tennis Australia is reported to only plan to fly a flag and have local artist Beau Woodbridge, son of tennis great Todd Woodbridge, perform the national anthem.
The development comes despite other days dedicated to promoting sponsors Emirates (January 14) and Kia (January 19), as well as All Abilities Day (January 21), Women's Day and Girls (January 23) and Pride Day (January 24).
Former Australian tennis star Sam Groth has called on tournament organizers at Melbourne Park to formally recognize Australia Day.
The men's final will be held on January 26 and, in addition to the action on the Rod Laver Arena court, Sam Groth wants the national day to be celebrated accordingly (pictured, fans at this year's Open)
The Australian Open has all but eliminated formal recognition of the national day in recent years amid a push to change the date of Australia Day.
“We are aware that there are different points of view and at the Australian Open we are inclusive and respectful of everyone,” Tennis Australia said. News Corporation.
“We recognize the historical importance and deep spiritual connection our First Peoples have to this land, and we recognize it with a Welcome to Country on the stadium screens before the daily day and night sessions.”
Australia Day, celebrated each year on January 26, marks the landing of the First Fleet in 1788, when the first governor of the British colony of New South Wales, Arthur Phillip, raised the Union Jack in Sydney Cove.
But for many indigenous people and younger Australians, it is considered “Invasion Day” or “Day of Mourning”, and protests are held in every major city each year.
In January last year, supermarkets Woolworths and Aldi proclaimed they would not sell Australia Day products.
The move led opposition leader Peter Dutton to call for a boycott of both companies.
The growing polarization around the national holiday is perhaps best summed up by the government-owned Australian National Day Council.
“For some, Australia Day is a day to celebrate all the opportunities that living in a free, multicultural society brings,” he wrote in his 2022 annual report.
'For others, it is a chance to reflect on their own citizenship and what it means to be Australian. And for many, January 26 represents a day of sadness, mourning and reminder of colonization.'