Global flag football community reacts to flag football's inclusion in the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028

It’s confirmed: Flag football will be making its debut in the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.

According to a story that appeared on NFL.com early Monday morning, IFAF, the NFL and USA Football -- the national governing body of American football in the United States will oversee American football feature on the official program of the Olympic Games for the first time in history.

It’s official! We’ve added brand new sports to our #LA28 Olympic Games lineup.

⚾️ Baseball, 🥎 Softball, 🚩🏈 Flag Football, 🥍 Lacrosse, ⚫️ Squash, 🏏 Cricket

Get more info on LA28’s full Olympic sport program: https://t.co/4CSIlhkBiI pic.twitter.com/c2ZOcy2EK8
— LA28 (@LA28) October 16, 2023

The decision by the IOC Executive Board, IOC Olympic Program Commission and Los Angeles 2028 Organizing Committee and concludes a two-year process of evaluation, follows prior recommendations.

An estimated 20 million in more than 100 countries currently play the discipline, which is growing in tandem with the exploding international popularity of the NFL, as America's favorite spectator sport continues to build on a global fanbase of 340 million.

This year will see 65 national representative teams participate in IFAF continental flag football competition, building towards the biggest-ever IFAF World Flag Football Championships to be held in Lahti, Finland in August 2024.

Pierre Trochet, President of the International Federation of American Football, said:

"This is a huge moment for our sport and our global American football community. 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. 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."

Diana Flores, The World Games gold medalist and Chair of the IFAF Athletes' Committee, commented on the historic moment and said:

"To compete in the Olympic Games is the ultimate dream of every athlete, and millions of flag football players around the world will go to sleep dreaming of Los Angeles 2028 tonight. I want to thank everyone who has made this possible -- including all my fellow athletes and ambassadors who have played such a central role in driving the project forward.

"Together, we are determined to use this incredible stage to showcase the best of flag football - its speed, athleticism and creativity, and also its power to transform lives and include new communities in sports. As an athlete community, we are proud to be leading the way, but our goal must be to use this opportunity to inspire, lift up and empower a new generation around the world."

Roger Goodell, National Football League Commissioner, commented on Monday’s moment and said:

"Congratulations to the International Federation of American Football on this landmark achievement for flag football and the global community that loves and plays our game.

"It's a tremendous honor for any athlete to represent their country at the Olympics. We have no doubt that this decision will inspire millions of young people around the world to play this game in the years ahead.

"The NFL is committed to working together to strengthen flag football's place in the Olympic movement long term, and we look forward to continuing this exciting journey with IFAF, the LA28 Organizing Committee, the International Olympic Committee and USA Football."

The state of Florida features one of the top states when it comes to the girls flag football community on the high school level. Programs like Alonso, Lennard, Mandarin, Pace, Robinson, Tarpon Springs have seen success over the years in the flag football circuit.

Alonso and Robinson were the Class 2A and 1A state champions in the spring of 2023, respectively.

The 2023 Alonso Ravens Flag Football Team completed their perfect season. Ravens go 23-0 and win the @FHSAA 2A State Championship! pic.twitter.com/kZzcfi4xEH
— Alonso Ravens Flag Football (@RavensFlagFB) May 13, 2023

SBLive Sports is proud to have become the leader in the coverage of girls flag football in Florida and across the country. You can look forward to more great coverage leading up to the 2024 season and throughout the spring.

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl

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