In founding an intercultural sports league, Raj Chopra has brought people from different backgrounds together to foster a strong Tasmanian community.


Arriving in Tasmania from India with his wife and their two-year-old son, Raj Chopra is all-too-familiar with the overwhelming feeling that comes with starting a new life in an unfamiliar country. Today, he is Founder and President of the Intercultural Sports League (ICSL). Its sole purpose is to bring communities together and draw people out of isolation through participation in social sport.

The league has now more than 600 members. There are teams from India, Nepal, Pakistan, Lebanon and Syria, and local Australian teams as well. It’s the first Nepalese team in Tasmania’s history! These participants have now created their own networks.”

Raj has witnessed friendships develop and confidence flourish. People from non-English speaking backgrounds have the opportunity to practice their English out on the field and cultural harmony is felt in the handshakes after hard-fought games.

In founding an intercultural sports league, Raj Chopra has brought people from different backgrounds together to foster a strong Tasmanian community. 
Arriving in Tasmania from India with his wife and their two-year-old son, Raj Chopra is all-too-familiar with the overwhelming feeling that comes with starting a new life in an unfamiliar country. Today, he is Founder and President of the Intercultural Sports League (ICSL). Its sole purpose is to bring communities together and draw people out of isolation through participation in social sport.

The league has now more than 600 members. There are teams from India, Nepal, Pakistan, Lebanon and Syria, and local Australian teams as well. It’s the first Nepalese team in Tasmania’s history! These participants have now created their own networks.”

Raj has witnessed friendships develop and confidence flourish. People from non-English speaking backgrounds have the opportunity to practice their English out on the field and cultural harmony is felt in the handshakes after hard-fought games.

Join us as we chat with Inspirational Australians making a real difference in their
communities, Australia and often the world.

This podcast is brought to you by Awards Australia, the owners and operators of the Young Achiever Awards and Community Achievement Awards programs.

The amazing people we interview are alumni and from the extended network of these awards programs, because they inspire us with their dedication, achievements and their positive impacts to local and wider communities.

We hope you're inspired by their stories too!

Join us as we chat with Inspirational Australians making a real difference in their communities, Australia and often the world.
This podcast is brought to you by Awards Australia, the owners and operators of the Young Achiever Awards and Community Achievement Awards programs.
The amazing people we interview are alumni and from the extended network of these awards programs, because they inspire us with their dedication, achievements and their positive impacts to local and wider communities.
We hope you're inspired by their stories too!

Inspirational.Australians by Awards Australia Podcast

Inspirational Australians Podcast

In this week’s episode, Geoff is talking to Raj who was a Finalist in the 2017 Tasmanian Community Achievement Awards.