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.