A recent vote taken during the Spring League Meeting gave permission for the NFL players to participate in flag football during the 2028 Olympics Games to be held in Los Angeles (LA28). Flag Football will make its Olympic debut in 2028. This event has sparked a certain level of excitement and anticipation, especially on the part of the NFL players. This will allow them to test their skills and represent their country on an international platform. Roster selection will be done by each country’s National Olympic Committee.
The intricate details that surround flag football
Flag football itself is a variation of your standard or also known as American football. It varies from regular gameplay as the defensive team has to remove a flag or a flag belt from the ball carrier to end a down. Contact between the players is limited. The overall amateur following of the game is quite strong. America sees most of the games being played, as this was the origin of the sport.
Fort Meade, Maryland, to be exact, as per historical recordings thus far. IFAF (International Federation of American Football) is the allocated governing body of the sport, with IWFFA (International Women’s Flag Football Association) governing the women’s side of the game. During the Summer Olympics of 2028 in Los Angeles, Flag Football will be a discretionary event.
Decisions, decisions – deciding when to take the leap
Deciding to participate in this event is quite a big decision. The star receiver of the Cincinnati Bengals is experiencing the same turmoil. 2024 triple crown winner Ja’Marr Chase is also still unsure about his participation in the Olympics in 2028. His hesitation revolves around the fact that he wishes for more information about how everything will play out before making a final decision in this matter.
This seems to be valid reasoning. Confirming the timing of everything, verifying the payment structure (if any), travelling arrangements, etc., are all justified questions to ask. Players have a myriad of things to consider, and this player aims to make a very informed decision. The excitement of this upcoming event has his interest, but it seems no definite final decision has been made yet.
Fantastic fanfare for a superb upcoming summer
The Summer Olympics will see its return to Los Angeles, California, for the first time since 1984. Flag football will also make its debut at the Games during this time. Players participating here will have the opportunity to represent their countries whilst simultaneously being able to compete for a gold medal. This all came about after the NFL unanimously voted to approve a motion that allows league players to participate.
Putting a bit of a damper on things is the underlying tension that can be felt. A lot of NFL players seem generally excited to take part in this, but the tensions arise from the flag football community. It seems that the biggest issue is the tryouts for placements. Flag football players have to try out for their placements within the team, and the hope is that the same requirement will be set for the NFL players.
The 2028 Summer Olympics, or LA 28, as it is also known, is set to take place from 14 to 30 July. Los Angeles is the host city, but some of the other events are scheduled to be presented at some of the other cities across the Greater Los Angeles area. Two subsites in Oklahoma City will also see some of the action. Flag football and squash will see their debut as optional sports during this tournament. Sport climbing, surfing, and skateboarding will also feature as core events during the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympic Games.
