Flag football has taken a significant step forward in its quest to become an Olympic sport in 2028. This is a huge victory for the NFL and organizers in Los Angeles, as they aim to introduce a distinctly American sport to the Summer Games on their return to the United States after 32 years. In a proposal submitted to the International Olympic Committee, the Los Angeles organizing committee has suggested the inclusion of flag football as one of the new sports. This proposal is expected to be approved in an IOC vote next week, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
Other sports on Los Angeles’ list include baseball and softball (counted as one sport), lacrosse, squash, and cricket. The Guardian reports that cricket previously made an appearance at the Olympics in Paris in 1900, and its inclusion in the 2028 games is highly likely due to the IOC’s interest in tapping into India’s large population and financial resources. However, breakdancing, motorsports, kickboxing, and karate did not make the cut for the roster.
It remains unclear whether other sports will have to reduce the number of medal events to accommodate the IOC’s limit of 10,500 athletes at the Summer Olympics. The addition of five team sports will certainly increase the total number of participants. Flag football, a less-violent version of American football, has been promoted by the NFL in various international markets. This year, the NFL scheduled games in London and Germany to further promote the sport.
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Flag football is played with 5 players on each team and involves pulling a flag off a belt worn by each player instead of traditional tackles. The game is played on a 50-yard field without offensive and defensive linemen. At the World Games last year, the US men’s team won the gold medal, while the women’s team lost to Mexico in the final. On the other hand, cricket poses a challenge for American audiences, as it is mostly popular in India, Australia, and Britain but virtually unknown in the United States. The proposed schedule for the Olympics in Los Angeles includes a shorter version of cricket called Twenty20.
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