Flag football has made significant strides towards being included in the 2028 Olympics, marking a triumph for the NFL and Los Angeles organizers. They aim to introduce a uniquely American sport to the Summer Games as they make their comeback to the U.S. after a 32-year hiatus.
The Los Angeles organizing committee has suggested five sports, including flag football, to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The proposal will be voted on at the IOC’s meeting starting this Friday in Mumbai, India.
The list also included sports such as baseball and softball. These sports were part of the Tokyo Games in 2021, but won’t be played in Paris next year. Other sports on the list were lacrosse, squash, and cricket. Cricket, a sport with a significant global reach, is expected to be well-received in Brisbane, Australia, the host of the 2032 games, and in India, where the voting will occur.
It is unclear if other sports will need to reduce their disciplines to assist the IOC in maintaining its limit of 10,500 athletes at a Summer Olympics. The inclusion of five team sports will increase the number of participants.
Flag football, in which “tackles” are made by pulling a flag off a belt worn by each player, would be a 5-on-5 affair played on a 50-yard field. There aren’t offensive and defensive linemen. At the World Games last year, the U.S. men won the gold medal but the women fell to Mexico in the final.
Flag football will resonate with the local audience, however, cricket will present a significant challenge to comprehend. The sport enjoys immense popularity in India, Australia, and Britain, but is largely unfamiliar to the U.S. populace. A condensed version of the game, known as Twenty20, is suggested for the Los Angeles schedule. Cricket has been featured in the Olympics previously, with its only appearance in Paris in 1900.
_Copyright 2023 by The Associated Press _
