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Beijing Welcomes NFL FLAG Champions
The Chinese capital of Beijing will host the sixth annual NFL Flag
Football World Championship (FFWC) August 16 - 20 when 12 to
14-year-olds from 10 nations and three continents compete for
the title of world champions. The NFL is proud to partner with
Motorola, Reebok, EA and Gatorade and promote this prestigious
tournament, which motivates boys and girls to participate in a fun
and safe sport.
Teams from USA, Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea,
Mexico, Spain, and Thailand will play at the Dong Dan Sports
Complex, situated half a mile from Tiananmen Square, in Beijing.
The event is the highlight of the NFL Flag Football season. More
than 1,500 youngsters from 16 countries competed in national
competitions for the right to represent their country at the FFWC.
All language barriers are removed and the players will form lasting
friendships as they visit cultural attractions such as Tiananmen
Square and the Great Wall. “One of the reasons flag football
remains our core grassroots initiative is because it encourages
boys and girls to learn football fundamentals,” said NFL Senior
Director of Youth Football Cedric Jones.
“We are very excited to hold the World Championship in Beijing,
where the NFL’s flag football program is in its infancy but is
already very popular."
Once the teams enjoy a day of sightseeing, the tournament will
kick off on Thursday, August 18. The competition will be spread
over three consecutive days; a round robin format is played by
two groups of five teams to determine the four semi finalists and
ultimately the two teams that will play for the world title.
Reigning World Champion the Michael-Ann Russell JCC of North
Miami Beach, Florida will again fly the American flag and defend
the crown won in Vancouver in 2004. For the second year in a
row, Team USA was victorious at the NFL FLAG National
Championship, ensuring their berth in the FFWC.
Tomken Road Middle School from Ontario will represent Canada
after emerging from the 228 teams who competed for a chance to
be one of nine participants at the national championships during
the Grey Cup in Ottawa. Mexico’s hopes rest with Las Aguilas of
Monterrey, who triumphed at the Tochito National Tournament
played between eight teams after 244 teams entered qualifying
tournaments in Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara and Pueblo.
Hopes of a home victory rest with Guangzhou #41 Middle School
of Guangzhou, the champion of China’s NFL Flag program, which
is in its second year. Bangmod Wittaya Middle School from
Bangkok won the Thailand Final Championship, which was keenly
contested by eight teams, while Japan’s representative is the
Rushers Football Club Junior from Tokyo. Kyung-il Middle School
from Daegu will aim to bring the championship back to Korea.
European aspirations lie with the top three teams who competed
among nine national teams in the NFL Flag Football European
School Final at the NFL Europe League World Bowl XIII in
Düsseldorf, Germany. IES Pere Vives Vich of Spain and
Gymnasium Meerbusch Eagles from Germany were both in action
in Vancouver at last year’s event and are joined by Liceo
Scientifico ULIVI from Parma as Italy is represented at the World
Championship for the first time.
Previous tournaments have been held in Toronto, Berlin, Mexico
City, Tokyo and Vancouver.
The Chinese capital of Beijing will host the sixth annual NFL Flag
Football World Championship (FFWC) August 16 - 20 when 12 to
14-year-olds from 10 nations and three continents compete for
the title of world champions. The NFL is proud to partner with
Motorola, Reebok, EA and Gatorade and promote this prestigious
tournament, which motivates boys and girls to participate in a fun
and safe sport.
Teams from USA, Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea,
Mexico, Spain, and Thailand will play at the Dong Dan Sports
Complex, situated half a mile from Tiananmen Square, in Beijing.
The event is the highlight of the NFL Flag Football season. More
than 1,500 youngsters from 16 countries competed in national
competitions for the right to represent their country at the FFWC.
All language barriers are removed and the players will form lasting
friendships as they visit cultural attractions such as Tiananmen
Square and the Great Wall. “One of the reasons flag football
remains our core grassroots initiative is because it encourages
boys and girls to learn football fundamentals,” said NFL Senior
Director of Youth Football Cedric Jones.
“We are very excited to hold the World Championship in Beijing,
where the NFL’s flag football program is in its infancy but is
already very popular."
Once the teams enjoy a day of sightseeing, the tournament will
kick off on Thursday, August 18. The competition will be spread
over three consecutive days; a round robin format is played by
two groups of five teams to determine the four semi finalists and
ultimately the two teams that will play for the world title.
Reigning World Champion the Michael-Ann Russell JCC of North
Miami Beach, Florida will again fly the American flag and defend
the crown won in Vancouver in 2004. For the second year in a
row, Team USA was victorious at the NFL FLAG National
Championship, ensuring their berth in the FFWC.
Tomken Road Middle School from Ontario will represent Canada
after emerging from the 228 teams who competed for a chance to
be one of nine participants at the national championships during
the Grey Cup in Ottawa. Mexico’s hopes rest with Las Aguilas of
Monterrey, who triumphed at the Tochito National Tournament
played between eight teams after 244 teams entered qualifying
tournaments in Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara and Pueblo.
Hopes of a home victory rest with Guangzhou #41 Middle School
of Guangzhou, the champion of China’s NFL Flag program, which
is in its second year. Bangmod Wittaya Middle School from
Bangkok won the Thailand Final Championship, which was keenly
contested by eight teams, while Japan’s representative is the
Rushers Football Club Junior from Tokyo. Kyung-il Middle School
from Daegu will aim to bring the championship back to Korea.
European aspirations lie with the top three teams who competed
among nine national teams in the NFL Flag Football European
School Final at the NFL Europe League World Bowl XIII in
Düsseldorf, Germany. IES Pere Vives Vich of Spain and
Gymnasium Meerbusch Eagles from Germany were both in action
in Vancouver at last year’s event and are joined by Liceo
Scientifico ULIVI from Parma as Italy is represented at the World
Championship for the first time.
Previous tournaments have been held in Toronto, Berlin, Mexico
City, Tokyo and Vancouver.
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