Paris (AFP) – Pierre Trochet, president of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), told AFP on Wednesday that the NFL’s green light for players to take part in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is a “huge milestone” for the sport. Tuesday’s announcement made Trochet’s 39th birthday all that more special, coming less than two years since the sport he leads gained the ultimate accolade in being voted onto the sports roster by International Olympic Committee members.
Flag football is an abbreviated, five-a-side form of American football, in which players “tackle” each other by grabbing a flag attached to the waist of opponents. Six men’s teams and six women’s teams will take part in the Olympic tournament in 2028, with each squad comprised of 10 players. The NFL’s announcement on Tuesday was “one of those milestones that we had on the playbook,” said Trochet. “All of that was scripted, of course. NFL-style, right? I’ll make the joke because it was my birthday,” he told AFP at the launch of the European championships which take place in September in France.
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Trochet, who is the youngest head of an Olympic sport federation, equated having the NFL players available for LA28 to the NBA superstars’ first appearance at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, where the USA ‘Dream Team’ won gold. Several NFL players have already expressed an interest, with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Kansas City Chiefs counterpart Patrick Mahomes among those indicating a desire to play in the Games. “We just keep on scoring every single time. So the recognition, the inclusion (in the Olympics),” Trochet said. “And now it is this Dream Team moment. It’s a huge milestone. I mean, how many sports can pretend to bring all of that kind of sports super power? NBA, the NFL.”
The former offensive lineman said having played for France in gridiron — at “a humble level” — he knew how special it was to represent one’s country.
– ‘Family pride’ –
Trochet — who had spells with the Amiens Spartans in France and the Austrian franchise Danube Dragons — said singing the national anthem and donning the country’s colours sent chills down one’s spine. “I think for every athlete it’s something special, being in the Olympics, being with your national team, getting that gold medal,” he said. “Putting yourself in the Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps category, being on this global stage. It’s a new excitement for them.”
The urbane Frenchman, who grew up steeped in American culture in Chateauroux, central France, as it hosted a US airforce base, said the Olympics offered something unique. “Being a Super Bowl winner is awesome and it’s so hard to try to get to the Super Bowl every year, but you might have only one chance in your career to get an Olympic medal,” he said. For Trochet there is no let-up as he seeks to ensure flag football is in the programme for Brisbane in 2032, which he says will be decided before Los Angeles. “I said at the beginning that LA was not a one and done,” he said. “So whenever this process will start, we’re ready and we will put forward a very appealing proposition to stay in the game. The NFL thing probably helps. It’s one of those things that brings value.”
French captain Elisa De Santis still has a full-time job despite winning world and European titles — and at 36 the lure of Los Angeles offers her one final hurrah. “It is the Games that give me oxygen,” she told AFP. For the urbane Trochet, Los Angeles also offers a personal goal — taking along his father, who was responsible for him catching the gridiron bug as he was president of the Chateauroux club. “It will be my moment of personal family pride.”
© 2024 AFP
