TEAMS FROM ELEVEN COUNTRIES ARRIVE IN OTTAWA FOR FIFTH IFAF FFWC

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2010 – OTTAWA, ONTARIO – The world’s best female and male flag football players from around the world landed in Ottawa, Ontario on Wednesday, August 11 as they prepare to compete in the fifth bi-annual International Federation of American Football Flag Football World Championship.

Flag Football female and male athletes representing the Austria, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Sweden and United States will compete at the RA Centre at Carleton University in Ottawa.  This year there will be nine women’s teams and eleven men’s teams competing in the tournament as  Italy and Korea will only compete in the men’s division.

The IFAF Flag Football World Championship has been held since 2002 and is the showpiece event for senior national teams competing in 5-on-5 flag football and has separate competitions for men and women.

Here is a look at how far the teams have travelled to take part in the first Women’s World Championship also noting the Asian teams who have to make a 13-hour jetlag adjustment.

Korea to Ottawa = 6,546 miles (10,534 kilometers)

Japan to Ottawa = 6,409 miles (10,313 kilometers)

Israel to Ottawa = 5,587 miles (8,991 kilometers)

Italy to Ottawa = 4,200 miles (6,759 kilometers)

Austria to Ottawa = 4,093 miles (6,586 kilometers)

Sweden to Ottawa = 3,733 miles (6,007 kilometers)

Germany to Ottawa = 3,727 miles (5,998 kilometers)

Denmark to Ottawa = 3,681 miles (5,923 kilometers)

Mexico to Ottawa = 2,235 miles (3,596 kilometers)

United States (NY) to Ottawa = 336 miles (541 kilometers)

Not wasting anytime in representing their country, the twenty teams competing in the tournament held team practices on Thursday as they acclimated to their new surroundings, shook off any jetlag and made final alterations to their game plans prior to their opening games.
The first day of round robin competition will kick off on Friday, August 13 at 9am for both the men and women as the 2008 Champions, Canadian men will face Italy and Austria and 2008 silver medalist Denmark will take on Israel, Korea and Japan.

In the women’s category, defending champions Mexico with face Israel and Germany in the opening day as host team and silver medalist Canada will take on the United States and Sweden.

Saturday, August 14 will be the final day of group play and will determine the seeding for the playoff round held on Sunday, August 15.  The Bronze medal games will kickoff at 3.00pm local time and the Men’s Gold medal game will be at 3.15 with the women’s Gold medal game following at 4.30 at the RA Centre in Ottawa.

IFAF Senior Flag Football World Championship Men’s Schedule

Friday Group A 
9.00     Canada vs. Italy
10.15   Sweden vs. Austria

12.45   Italy vs. Germany
14.00   Austria vs. Canada
15.15   Germany vs. Sweden

Friday Group B  
9.00     Israel vs. Denmark
10.15   USA vs. Israel

Mexico vs. Japan
11.30   Korea vs. Denmark
12.45   Israel vs. Japan

Mexico vs. USA
14.00   Korea vs. Israel
15.15   Israel vs. Mexico

Denmark vs. Japan

IFAF Senior Flag Football World Championship Women’s Schedule

Friday Group A
9.00     Mexico vs. Israel
10.15   Austria vs. Denmark
11.30   Germany vs. Israel
12.45   Israel vs. Austria
14.00   Mexico vs. Germany
15.15   Israel vs. Denmark

Friday Group B
9.00     Japan vs. Sweden
10.15   Canada vs. USA

12.45   Sweden vs. USA
14.00   Japan vs. Canada

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