Women's international flag teams in action (Photo: EFAF)

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. 
 
Both the U.S. Men's and Women's Flag National Teams enter the tournament as a No. 3 seed. The United States is making its second appearance in the tournament, the first coming in 2008, when both teams finished in fourth place within their respective divisions. 
 
This year, the men's team features players that participated in the United States Flag and Touch Football League (USFTL, www.usflt.com) championship tournament this past January in Kissimmee, Florida. 
 
The women's is composed of athletes from the Independent Women's Football League (IWFL, www.iwflsports.com). Three women are members of a U.S. national team for the third time. Adrienne Smith and Lauren Pringle, both of New York City, and Karen Mulligan of the Bronx, N.Y., all played on the 2008 U.S. Flag Football Team as well as in the 2010 IFAF Women's World Championship tackle event. Sharon Vasquez of Pittsburgh was the Defensive MVP of the 2010 tackle games in which the United States won the gold medal.

Another Team USA player, Chante Bonds who plays for the IWFL New York Sharks describes how the adjustment to flag football has been for her and the team.  "It's a much faster game, so you really have to have your timing down, be quick and crisp with everything," said Bonds. "I'm already a fast player, so I feel like I can be faster now that I'm not wearing a helmet and shoulder pads.'' 

The U.S. Men's Flag National Team is grouped in pool play with Denmark, Israel, Japan, Korea and Mexico facing Israel and Mexico on Friday, August 13, as the women open the tournament with games against Canada 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                                                    
11.30                                                                                      
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                                            
11.30                                                                                      
12.45   Sweden vs. USA                                           
14.00   Japan vs. Canada
 

2010 IFAF Flag Football World Championship winners:
 
Year                 Venue             Champion (M)               Champion (W)
2002                 Austria              Austria                          Sweden
2004                 France              Austria                          Mexico
2006                 Korea               France                          France
2008                 Canada            Canada                         Mexico             
  
2010 IFAF Flag Football World Championship schedule:
  
Friday, August 13:                    
Round Robin Competition
 
Saturday, August 14:                
Round Robin Competition
 
Sunday, August 15:                  
Medal Round Games
Closing Ceremony