The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is constantly adding new sports to the Olympics. It picks up new and emerging sports for the Olympics. They also remove or modify a few sports from the sports list. One of the many reasons they add or remove sports is to entertain audiences. Check Is Flag Football Officially Part of the 2028 Olympics?
Popular sports are usually added to the list because they draw players and audiences. Flag Football is one of those popular sports. It’s similar to American Football or Rugby, except for the tackles.
Yes, Flag Football is officially part of the 2028 Olympics. It was one of the five proposition sports for the IOC to consider adding to the Olympics. Flag football’s addition will impact the sport’s growth and provide exposure. This was the aim of the IOC and the NFL in introducing Flag football.
Is Flag Football Officially Part of the 2028 Olympics?
Flag football is a derivative of American football or rugby. It is a low-cost game that requires a belt, flag, mouthguard, and gloves apart from the basic jersey and cleats. The players need to wear no-pocket shorts and non-metal cleats to avoid injuries. Although the sport is a non-contact game, injuries can still happen, hence the mouthguard.
There can be four to ten players on each side of the team. The players have two flags on each side of their waists. The defenders tackle the players by removing their flags; once they remove a flag, another round begins. The players have to carry the ball to the end zone while protecting their flags to score a touchdown.
A round can also end if the player is out of bounds with the ball or the ball hits the ground after a forward throw or pass. This indicates that the players need to be aware of their surroundings and their teammates’ skill levels. The next round begins from the point where the last play ends.
There’s also a seven-second rule in flag football, similar to rugby. After the game starts, the quarterback gets seven seconds to pass the ball to a player. Once the pass is completed, the seven-second rule comes to an end until the next round.
Players officially played the game in 1940 in Fort Meade, USA. Flag football’s first appearance on a worldwide stage was in the 2022 World Games. It is a fun sport that requires quickness, mentally and physically.
Flag Football will be part of the 2028 Olympics, hosted by Los Angeles, USA. The LA Organizing Committee, which also suggested the sport to the IOC, will organize it.
