Teams Arrive In New Orleans

The international appeal of the NFL Flag Football World Championship was evident as the ten teams taking part in the eighth annual NFL grassroots event began arriving in New Orleans on Monday and Tuesday.

Teams comprised of 12 to 14-year-olds from ten nations and three continents will compete at the New Orleans practice facility in Metairie on Thursday and Friday. The top two teams emerging from group play will contest the championship game at 3.30pm on Friday before the Saints take on the Buffalo Bills in the Louisiana Super Dome.

Japan’s Adachi Gakuen Junior High School Wild Bears had the longest journey of 32 hours from Tokyo and were the first of the overseas teams to arrive in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The United States champion Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center traveled the shortest distance from Miami and got in some useful practice time early on Tuesday at Tulane University.

“We are excited to be here,” said US head coach David Fried. “We have settled into the hotel and our preparations are going well. The secret to this team’s success is the chemistry between the players and the desire to win the world championship. We can’t wait to get onto the field.”

While the US youngsters were out on the practice field the Shoushi Shiyan Middle School from China arrived in New Orleans after a lengthy journey via Houston. Los Diablitos from Mexico caused curious locals and tourists to stop on the sidewalk as they posed for photographs in their distinctive green tracksuits and traditional sombreros.

Pere Vives Viches from Spain and Korea’s Sungseo Middle School each traveled for more than 24 hours to reach New Orleans, but were in fine spirits when they checked into the Astor Hotel in the city’s French Quarter. The Koreans wasted no time in getting down to business as they walked to the Woldenberg Riverfront Park to practice.

On Wednesday morning the FFWC players will meet with local children and work with them to build an international garden at the NFL Youth Education Town. New Orleans Saints owner/executive vice president Rita Benson LeBlanc will also be in attendance to meet the international players, most of whom have never been to the United States.

The international garden will be a sanctuary where local children can relax, read, and enjoy the outdoors. Each team will plant a different flower that represents their country and decorate their space in the garden with their home country flag. Long after the FFWC players leave, New Orleans children enjoying the garden will experience a tour of the globe right in their backyard.