Flag football team hopes to represent Singapore at 2028 Olympics amid hurdles

SINGAPORE: Flag football is American football without the physical contact, and the sport is set to make its Olympic debut in Los Angeles five years from now.

Instead of tackling players to the ground, the five-a-side game involves pulling flags from the ball carrier with the aim of advancing the ball up the field into the opponent's end zone. A touchdown is worth six points.

The game, which began in Singapore with a group of expatriates, is growing in popularity here and now has about 90 members.

Among them is a local team of around 20 men who represented Singapore in an Asia-Oceanic tournament in November, after being formed just a few months before. 

Now, they have set their sights higher - they want to fly the Singapore flag at the Olympics.

To represent Singapore in any major Games, however, the club first needs to be recognised as a National Sports Association. That is the first hurdle that stands between them and their Olympic dream.

There are several steps to being recognised, general manager of Singapore Flag Football Noel Bay told CNA.

“First of all, an organisation or association needs to be well established in the local scene and this includes having the appropriate governance structures, the appropriate constitution. At the same time, also the appropriate committee committee members,” he said.

The association also has to be recognised by the international governing body - International Federation of American Football - as the authority for the sport in Singapore and comply with anti-doping policies from Sport Singapore (SportSG) and the Singapore government. The association will then be assessed.

Meanwhile, having taken part in the Asia-Oceanic tournament in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year, which is recognised by the