Portugal Colonial - Flag football federation 'hopes' US teams have reserve places at LA Olympics

Trochet, speakFlag football will make its Olympic bow at ting to AFP on Monday on the sidelines of an official visit three years ahead of the Los Angeles Olympics, said the federation was in discussions with the International Olympic committee on the qualifying path for six men's and six women's teams.

"We will have the official version of the qualification program by the end of the year," he said. "We are already anticipating a scenario where the world's best might face a first stage of qualification in 2026.

"After that, a mix with the best continental teams in 2027 could yeild a second group of qualified teams. We have quite a clear and precise idea of what we will propose."

The fledgling Olympic sport -- a non-tackle version of the immensely popular gridioron game -- received a boost when the NFL gave the green light for its players to participate, and Trochet said the federation hoped they would be granted entry to the tournament as hosts.

"Our board has made this proposal, and we hope it will be favorably received by those who need to approve our qualification pathway," he said.

Trochet said the federation has also been working on flag football's place in the Olympic schedule, saying they had secured a "prime time" slot with a men's final on Friday, July 21, that "links culturally to the tradition of university games on Friday nights.

"The women's final will have its own moment on Saturday evening at the heart of an important day, all at the end of the first week of the Games," Trochet added.

Elsewhere the federation is focusing on the growth of the sport worldwide.

"A few weeks ago, we concluded the first African Championship in Cairo, Egypt," he said. "Throughout the summer we will transition to the European Championships in Paris, the Americas Championship in Panama and then the Asia-Oceania Championships in China in October."

Trochet said efforts to bolster the sport in the United States are somewhat different, but along with the NFL the federation is working to support youth flag football, train coaches and train and certify officials.

"In the United States, flag football is experiencing phenomenal growth," he said, adding that the federation was working with the NFL to have flag football, long considered a recreational pursuit, recognized as a competitive collegiate sport in the United States.

"Our ambition is to move faster than the 10 years usually required for this process," he said.

P.L.Madureira--PC