New York (dpa) – The NFL wants to enable its stars to take part in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Flag football, a low-contact version of American football, will be included in the Olympics for the first time at the Summer Games in California.
“This is the pinnacle of sports worldwide,” NFL executive Peter O’Reilly said at a meeting. “In the end, the decision to form Team USA is a decision made by USA Football and the national association and the national associations of other countries with comparable missions,” he said, pointing to the current 113 NFL professionals who were born outside the United States.
O’Reilly said he understands athletes’ need to represent their countries at the Olympics. He announced talks with the players’ union and the NFL teams “towards a process” and then they would work with the US Football Association and the International American Football Association.
At the general assembly in India, the International Olympic Committee included flag football along with cricket, baseball, softball, lacrosse and squash in the program for the games in the summer of 2028. The NFL has been very committed to this in recent months and has aggressively marketed flag football.
After the IOC decision was announced, NFL star Tyreek Hill from the Miami Dolphins announced his interest in participating in the Olympics. “How great would it be to send a great team to the Olympic Games,” he also asked.
From Germany, Jakob Johnson (Las Vegas Raiders) from Stuttgart and Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions) are currently on the active rosters of NFL teams. St. Brown’s older brother Equanimeous of the Chicago Bears is inactive for at least three more weeks due to injury. The 23-year-old Amon-Ra St. Brown is officially a flag football ambassador for the NFL and, in his third season, is one of the league’s best pass receivers.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:231018-99-604052/3
2023-10-18 03:06:30
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