Interview: Federation chief confident of China's flag football potential with Olympic boost

CHENGDU, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- IFAF president Pierre Trochet, who has been impressed by the flag football competition at the Chengdu World Games, expressed confidence for China's potential in the sport, which is set to make its Olympic debut in 2028.

"The competition has been great. We could hear that the fans were all over the stadium. The facilities are fantastic," Trochet told Xinhua.

"Chengdu has extensive experience of hosting world-class events. I'm very happy that the flag football has kicked off here. It's a super fun sport and full of creativity, and I'm really looking forward to the coming days," he added.

Trochet attended China women's flag football team's first ever international match on Thursday, when the host team came close to pulling off a major upset against world No. 4 Austria, narrowly losing 47-45.

"To be honest, I didn't expect that a new team could really compete with the world No. 4. I have seen team spirit, energy, and I heard the support of the fans in the stadium. The potential of China is very impressive," he said.

The head of flag football's global governing body said he was pleased to see the sport is growing rapidly in China, driven by the prospect of its inclusion in the 2028 Olympics.

"The Olympics are the greatest event on earth, and athletes dream of playing there. More importantly, it inspires investment in the sport, raises the level of international competition, boosts our ability to host major events, and significantly increases public attention, sponsorship and ticket sales," he said.

"I had a positive meeting with my Chinese colleagues. They have a plan to raise millions of players in China, and we are fully committed to support in terms of growth, knowledge sharing and hosting competitions," Trochet noted.

The city of Ningbo, in southeast China's Zhejiang Province, is scheduled to host the IFAF Asia-Oceania Championships in October, which will mark the first time China has staged a major IFAF tournament.

"When I see the World Games here, I am already super excited and looking forward to coming back in October," Trochet said. "We are finalizing the fixture now. I am sure it's going to be fantastic, and the stadium will be fully packed."

Trochet revealed that only six men's and women's teams will qualify for the 2028 Olympics, with qualifying regulations yet to be decided.

"You have to be the best [to qualify]," he noted. "The Asia-Oceania Championships in Ningbo is a tremendous opportunity for China to reach the World Championships. Being the top of the region could put you on the path for an Olympic ticket."

Flag football is a non-contact version of American football, typically played in a five-on-five format. An offensive player is "tackled" by pulling one of two flags worn on a belt around the hips.

Trochet said the sport's appeal was the key factor in its Olympics inclusion. "It's fun, fast-paced and creative. It's high scoring and competitive. It's a sport that is appealing to an entire new generation since you play on a short period, and it's packed with highlights."

"I believe that we have a great proposition for the Olympics in the new era for a new generation, and I'm very happy that Los Angeles 2028 believes in that vision."

"We don't want to appear at the Olympics just once. I hope to convince Brisbane 2032 that we are also very supportive of the game, and we can bring some great value," he added. ■