Visiting NFL Players To Conduct Training Session - Bernews

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The Bermuda Tourism Authority is introducing a flag football initiative, broadening its sports tourism focus.

A spokesperson said, "The Bermuda Tourism Authority [BTA] has partnered with professional American footballers for a flag football programme, expanding beyond its traditional focus on sailing, golf, tennis and endurance events.

"This weekend, a group of visiting National Football League [NFL] players -- including quarterbacks Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor of the New York Jets -- will conduct training sessions in Bermuda alongside top U.S. quarterback coach Quincy Avery and manager David Leeks founding member of the Golf Links Golf. The group will be on island for four days.

Members of the public are invited to attend an open training session:

"The players will offer introductions and brief remarks during the Sunday session. Youth and families are especially encouraged to attend.

"The visit supports the year-round and teams-and-groups pillars of the National Tourism Plan, while also contributing to efforts to attract a broader and more diverse group of visitors through emerging sports sectors.

"Bermuda's established sports infrastructure -- including venues that meet international compliance standards -- has enabled the island to successfully host major international sporting events. These capabilities strengthen its positioning as a training and competition destination for emerging global sports such as flag football.

"Flag football has experienced significant growth in recent years. According to the International Federation of American Football [IFAF], 2.4 million children under the age of 17 are currently playing organised flag football in the United States, with millions more participating globally. IFAF, the global governing body for the sport, oversees its development, performance and competitive standards across 74 national member federations.

"IFAF expects flag football to surpass tackle football in global participation in the coming years. Since 2002, the organisation has hosted men's and women's world championships in flag football, now held biennially. In 2022, the NFL and IFAF also launched the Global Flag Football Ambassadors programme, aimed at increasing international awareness and growth of the sport. Capping this rise in global prominence, flag football is set to make its Olympic debut in 2028.

"A larger flag football event is currently in development for March 2026, which aims to bring additional international athletes to Bermuda and further integrate the sport into the island's tourism strategy. Further details about the 2026 event will be shared in due course.

"Learn about Bermuda's Sports Tourism product: A World of Sports in Bermuda | Go To Bermuda"