Sports fans rejoice!

The annual Sports Writers Festival is heading to Melbourne and Sydney with a stellar line-up of guests headlining the event set to kick some serious goals. The annual event celebrates all things sport through the written word and will be taking place in both sports obsessed cities on 28th-29th October (Melbourne) and 3rd to 4th November (Sydney).

The international guest of this year’s Sports Writers Festival featuring at both locations is Andrew Mangan, blogger, podcaster and voice over artist from Dublin and genius behind the hugely successful arseblog and arsecast.

From starting a small blog documenting the ins and outs of his beloved football team Arsenal, Andrew Mangan took the www.arseblog.com.au to unrivalled heights and conquered the football world with the blog’s success and a twice-weekly podcast, arsecast. Now the leader of successful podcast network Castaway Media, Andrew is heading down under to teach budding young sports writers, fans and fanatics all about his passion for sport and how he turned that into such success.

Melbournians still enjoying the Richmond and Melbourne Storm AFL and NRL glory will be delighted to hear from long-time fan of both teams, and established journalist, TV personality and radio host Waleed Aly. Aside from sharing his extensive media experience and knowledge, Waleed will be sharing his thoughts on how sport shapes Australian culture and identity.

Former Wallaby, esteemed journalist and Chair of the Australian Republican Movement, Peter FitzSimons will address the idea that sport is more than just the scoreboard and balance sheet. Sport should be a powerful force in building stronger, vibrant and healthy communities.

Broadcaster and journalist Francis Leach, Founder and Curator of the Sports Writers Festival, will also be involved in sharing his considerable knowledge of the media and how budding young sports lovers can turn their passion into writing.

Other key speakers involved in the Sports Writers Festival are satirist Titus O’Reily, Susan Alberti, Angela Pippos, Steve Mascord, Cate McGregor, Rohan Connolly, Malcolm Knox and Christopher Shen.

The Sports Writers Festival puts sport at the forefront with all keynote speakers combining to share their passion for sport and storytelling and how sports writing has shaped our culture.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.sportswritersfestival.com.au