Beijing, China – Beijing has been selected to host the sixth annual NFL Flag Football World Championship, NFL Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE announced today during his visit to China.

The tournament, which will include teams from Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Thailand, the United States, and three teams from Europe, will take place from August 16-21. Several sites in Beijing are under consideration for the tournament.

"Since introducing flag football in China nearly two years ago, there has been an enthusiastic response from youth and school administrators to the sport," said the Commissioner at a press conference in Beijing. "The selection of Beijing as host of this important international youth event underscores this enthusiasm and will serve as a bridge between cultures from 10 different nations."

Flag Football was introduced in China in 2003. The program, open to boys and girls ages 8-14, has reached more than 40,000 youth in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou -- the three largest cities in China. Currently 84 schools – 30 each in Beijing and Shanghai and 24 in Guangzhou -- are involved in the program.

China made history last year by taking part in the tournament for the first time. A team from Shou Shi Shi Yan Middle School in Beijing, champions of the Chinese National NFL Flag Football League, traveled to Vancouver, Canada for the tournament. They tied Germany in the first round and defeated South Korea to finish ninth.

In addition to Vancouver, Berlin, Mexico City, Tokyo and Toronto have hosted the event. The participants are all national or regional champions in NFL Flag football leagues.

NFL Flag Football is the NFL’s core international grassroots program involving more than one million boys and girls around the world. The program provides youngsters with a fun and exciting opportunity to engage