Olympics fans are joking that the 'world isn't ready' for the sport which is set to make a debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
Alongside the core events such as swimming, running and gymnastics, the Olympics also tests out various new sports every four years. Some sports, such as sport climbing and skateboarding, are lucky enough to be held onto, while events such as breakdancing are axed before the contestants even get a chance to showcase their talent.
However, as the age old saying goes, when one door closes another opens, with the replacement sports for the LA '28 Games already confirmed.
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As the world looks westward for the XXXIV, Olympiad sports such as cricket and lacrosse make their long-awaited return.
Joining the two returning sports is a completely new event, and it's inclusion is already dividing fans.
What is this mysterious new sport you ask? Well, it is none other than *insert drumming sound here* flag football.
What is flag football?
Now, if you're like me, and your initial reaction to the announcement was 'what the hell is flag football?' don't worry, we can explain.
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Flag football is essentially a non-contact version of American Football. Played with an oval shaped US football, the aim of the game is to advance towards the opposite end of the pitch and into the other team's defensive zone, with points won once you pass the other team's goal line.
The major difference between flag football and regular American football comes from the no-contact nature of the game. Players pull a flag from the belt of the person holding the ball instead of tackling them to the ground. This allows for a less violent version of the sport.
Flag football originated in the US back in the 1940s, with many social media users now users wondering if this means that Team USA will have a major advantage over other countries at the upcoming Olympics.
"Flag football being announced as a sport for the 2028 Olympics is hilarious because who tf is playing? USA vs Canada? No other countries play this sport lmfaoooo," one person said on X.
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"Hey, rest of world; y'all have three-ish years to catch up to us, a country that has been playing this game professionally for a little over a century," a second user added, while a third wrote: "I don't think the rest of the world is ready for this."
The inclusion of flag football left non-Americans similarly baffled, with one UK user joking: "Flag football is coming to the next Olympics. There’s probably only a dozen people in the uk who know what it is. Definitely qualifying for that just by registering interest."
Despite the sport being considerably less popular outside the US, it isn't non-existent, with the NFL claiming that around 100 countries are said to have flag football leagues. As it stands, Great Britain is currently the fourth ranked country in flag football, with the USA, Mexico and Japan ahead of them.
Looks like its time for everyone to don their flags and get training.
Topics: Olympics, Football, Social Media, Sport
Brenna Cooper