American football at the Summer Olympics


American football was featured in the Summer Olympic Games demonstration programme in 1904 and 1932. College football was played at the 1904 Olympics, which was played at Francis Field, but was, in reality, college teams playing each other as part of their regular seasons. The sport was eventually played officially as a demonstration sport only once, in 1932. Though American football has not been played in the Olympics since then, various American football players have participated in the Olympics. The International Federation of American Football oversees the IFAF World Championship, which is an international tournament, which itself is held every four years.
In 2013, The International Olympic Committee gave provisional recognition to The International Federation of American Football, setting up a possible vote on its future participation in the Olympics. In 2015, American Football wasn't included in the 2020 additions.

1904 Summer Games

and Washington University in St. Louis initially sought to contest an Olympic football championship, but were unable to host it officially. Both teams ended up simply playing their regular seasons from teams around the country, making their status as an official demonstration sport dubious. St. Louis was declared the champion "by default." As Francis Field was the main stadium for the 1904 Summer Olympics, only those games would have been considered a demonstrations for Olympic crowds. Only two games at Francis Field were played that did not involve Washington: a match between Purdue and Missouri, and the first match between two Indian school teams who were considered powerhouses in college football at the time.
DateWinning TeamLosing TeamScore
September 28, 1904Washington Shurtleff10–0
October 5, 1904Washington Rose16–5
October 8, 1904IllinoisWashington 31–0
October 15, 1904SewaneeWashington 17–0
October 19, 1904Washington Drury36–0
October 22, 1904IndianaWashington 21–6
October 28, 1904PurdueMissouri11–0
October 29, 1904TexasWashington 23–0
November 5, 1904Washington Missouri11–0
November 12, 1904KansasWashington 12–0
November 19, 1904West VirginiaWashington 6–5
November 24, 1904HaskellWashington 47–0
November 26, 1904CarlisleHaskell38–4

1932 Summer Games

Future and possible 2024 addition

Though American football has not been played in the Olympics since then, various American football players have participated in the Olympics. In 2013, the International Olympic Committee gave provisional recognition to the International Federation of American Football, setting up a possible vote on its future participation in the Olympics. In 2015, American Football wasn't included in the 2020 additions with critics voicing the IFAF's lack of effort and surrounding drama around the 2015 IFAF World Championship. Following the IOC's decline of the IFAF's application, the IFAF resubmitted its application, re-earning the provisional recognition for a possible addition in the 2024 Summer Olympics, with the earliest vote being as possible as 2017.
American Football's inclusion in the Summer Olympics would possibly lead to pro players possibly being eligible for international representation, as under IFAF rules, professional American football players in both the NFL and CFL are not eligible. It has also been argued that due to roster restrictions, seven-on-seven is the most likely style of play to make it as a medal event in the same vein as Rugby in the 2016 Summer Olympics.