China wants to upset USA at 2028 Olympics as Flag Football makes debut

China is targeting flag football at the upcoming 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles as a way to overtake the U.S. in medal count following Paris.
Flag football will make its Olympic debut in L.A. as part of a new crop of summer games. Other sports announced to appear for the first time include lacrosse, cricket, squash, baseball, and softball.
The International Olympic Committee, following its 141st meeting in Mumbai in October 2023, decided to add the non-contract 11-on-11 game. “The choice of these five new sports is in line with American sports culture and will showcase iconic American sports to the world while bringing international sports to the United States,” said committee President Thomas Bach.
“These sports will make the Olympic Games LA28 unique. Their inclusion will allow the Olympic Movement to engage with new athlete and fan communities in the U.S. and globally.”
Team USA left the Paris Olympics with 126 total medals compared to China’s 91. Both teams earned 40 gold medals, each looking to capitalize on the new sports to overtake the other.
“Because flag football is similar to other sports, with a few years of training, athletes from other sports can perform very well in this sport. It’s not hard for them to do that,” said school founder Huang Chen.
Chinese schools have already begun training for the upcoming games, with the goal of winning gold. Because the sport uses the same training methods as other contact sports, the transition was smooth, with minimal learning curves.
“I hope to play at the Olympics because it’s something to be especially proud of. With every touchdown, I feel like I’ve grown a little,” said a student from the Gambol flag football school in Beijing.
“The U.S. thinks it has an edge in flag football – that’s why they applied for its inclusion in the next Olympics. Flag football not only depends on [their] physical abilities, but also on strategy and teamwork,” she continued.
The U.S. men’s and women’s teams have solidified their superiority on the international stage once again during the 2024 IFAF Flag World Championships. The Men’s team, having now won six of the last seven championships, continues to uphold its reputation as the world’s top-ranked team.
The Women’s team has built an equally strong legacy, winning their third consecutive championship title. Both teams are currently ranked No. 1 in the IFAF Flag Football World Rankings and have a combined 15-0 record.
According to the International Federation of American Football [IFAF], Mexico is second in the women’s adult rankings after the United States, followed by Japan and Great Britain. Neither China’s men’s nor women’s teams are ranked in the top 38, and the nation is not recognized as a federation in the IFAF.