THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE of Tokyo 2020 have announced that America’s Game could be about to go truly international with inclusion at their Olympic Games.
Host cities can ask the IOC to add one or more sports to their games and American football has joined the likes of billiards, tug of war and karate among 26 sports to make the shortlist for Japan in six years time.
The IOC will make a final decision in August 2016, when it meets ahead of that year’s Olympics in Rio.
And should the sport get the go ahead, the Irish American Football Association (IAFA) has said it would considering entering an Irish team.
However, Cillian Smith of IAFA has warned that the inclusion of American football on the Olympic charter may be more to do with funding than an Olympic medal actually being up for grabs.
“In many countries, having a sport achieve Olympic status is important for grants and how much money the national governing body receives.
“However, if it was included — and I suspect a US Olympics may be a more likely setting — we’d certainly look at fielding a team.”
The USA would likely go in as un-backable favourites but there are other problems with any attempt to have American football played in Tokyo.
Firstly, there is the issue of how to structure an event in the short period of time the Olympics affords as American football games are traditionally only held once a week given the physical nature of the sport.
With time a very pressing issue, it is likely only 8-10 teams could realistically take part and the traditional 60 minute game may have to be sacrificed.
There are also significant issues with American football’s world governing body — International Federation of American Football (IFAF) — with a proposed World Cup in Sweden cancelled this year and president Tommy Wiking currently on prolonged leave from the organisation following investigation by Swedish authorities into his financial affairs.
An attempt to overhaul corporate governance in IFAF, led by Ireland and India, is set to take place at next months Global Congress in Canton, Ohio.
Originally published at 12.10
