With all the excitement happening worldwide about the Olympic Games, American Football is a sport that many want to see included. Commisioner Roger Goodell says that we may see that happen in the future.
“We’re already taking steps to gain that IOC recognition,” Goodell told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. “We have, I think, 64 countries that are playing American football now, and that’s one of the requirements. That’s been growing dramatically — I think it was 40 just five years ago.”
“Our point is just to keep growing the game,” Goodell said. “We’re having a tremendous reaction in London and the UK for the game of football, our regular season game over there is sold out again this year, we are seriously contemplating as early as 2013 playing two NFL games next season and I think we’ll do that.
“It’s a response to the tremendous fan reaction and the growth of the game. If we can continue to grow the game there and have the fan reaction that we have, there very well may be a franchise in London.”
Adding Football to the Olympic Games would be great. But the sport would be included in Summer Olympics. If NFL Players want to participate, they’d have to figure out a way to be in two places at one time, as NFL Training Camps are usually kicking off when the Summer Games start.
I would love to see the sport added, but there is still a lot of work to be done if they plan on making it happen.
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OCNN Sports Columnist – Justin Arbogast @NFLGuy_SK
