Spiaggia Romea prepares to host Europe’s young flag football players

Three days of youth competition

The tournament is planned as three days of competition, bringing youth flag football teams to Spiaggia Romea Village & Residence. Delegations, coaches and young athletes were arriving at the venue on 23 September, the day before play was due to start, FIDAF reported.

The event offers three continental titles: one each for U17 men, U17 women and U15 mixed teams. FIDAF’s announcement did not provide a fixture list or team-by-team schedule.

Opening press conference in Comacchio

The championships were presented at an opening press conference on 23 September. Speakers included Marcella Zappaterra, a councillor of the Emilia-Romagna Region; Comacchio Mayor Samuele Bellotti; Spiaggia Romea Hotel & Village director Francesca Santonastaso; FIDAF federal councillor Manfredi Leone; and Lars Carlsen, IFAF sports manager.

Regional and local representatives discussed the tournament’s links with sport, young people and the area. FIDAF’s report also noted that the event was presented as an opportunity to introduce visitors to Comacchio and the Po Delta.

Flag football and young players

Santonastaso described Spiaggia Romea’s work with school groups and its efforts to give students opportunities to try sports that are less widely known. She said flag football is among the disciplines introduced to visiting students, and mentioned the venue’s connection with the Aquile Ferrara.