The International Federation of American Football (IFAF), the NFL, and USA Football are celebrating the historic decision by the IOC Session in Mumbai, India, to include American flag football in the official program of the Olympic Games for the first time in Los Angeles 2028.
This decision follows recommendations from various bodies, including the IOC Executive Board, concluding a two-year evaluation process.
“This is a huge moment for our sport and our global American football community,” Pierre Trochet, President of the International Federation of American Football said.
“We are grateful to everyone who has played a part in what has been a truly collective journey – and a journey that will now continue in partnership with LA28, whom we thank for their vision and leadership.
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“We are convinced that flag football will offer an exciting new dimension to the Games — uniting them, for the first time in history, with America’s number one sport in its youngest, most accessible and inclusive format, which is already spearheading extraordinary growth, particularly among youth audiences, women and girls and in new countries worldwide. We have no doubt that inclusion in the Olympic Games will further accelerate this dynamic.”
Rising NFL popularity
The inclusion of flag football, a fast, non-contact, and gender-equal format, reflects its global growth, with over 20 million participants in 100+ countries.
This move aligns with the rising international popularity of the NFL, which boasts 340 million fans worldwide. The IFAF will hold its biggest-ever World Flag Football Championships in August 2024.
“Today is a momentous day for American football. We are incredibly thankful to the IOC and LA28 Organizing Committee for recognizing flag football as a sport worthy of inclusion in the Olympic Games, and we share our excitement and celebrate this historic occasion with the millions of flag football players across our country,” Scott Hallenbeck, CEO of USA Football and IFAF Vice President noted.
“The decision to add flag football to the 2028 Summer Olympic program in Los Angeles is an acknowledgment of the sport’s tremendous international growth and appeal as a fast, exciting and competitive sport
“USA Football works tirelessly to support the sport’s exponential growth at all levels by encouraging the creation of more pathways to play, and inclusion in the Olympic Games will have a transformative impact on our sport — from the grassroots level to our elite US National Teams.
“As the governing body of American Football in the United States, we are committed to continuing to work closely with IFAF, the USOPC and the NFL as we pursue our collective efforts to grow the game for current and future generations.”
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