- We are happy to have this co-operation with TV4-group – it is a large and successful premium mediahouse, says Andreas Ekman, Communications director for Stockholm2015. – They have a history of great sports content and have also worked with smaller sports and grown them to wide acceptance in Swedish households. They will be an excellent partner for the domestic market.

The agreement includes both broadcast as well as streaming through TV4 Play, the plattform for viewing online. The Swedish finales on september 7th will not have any geo-restrictions. More information will by published at the Swedish federation (SAFF) homepage.

- This is also is a major milestone in getting international TV-contracts to ensure distribution to a world-wide audience, both for broadcast and streaming services, says Andreas Ekman. – We have a great production team in place with experience both from american football as well as big world championship tournaments, such as the ice-hockey World championships and soccer world cup.

More info
Swedish american football federation (SAFF) homepage

PRESS MESSAGE
For immediate release

TV4-group will broadcast World Championship and Swedish finales

Stockholm, August, 22nd 2014: TV4-group have secured the rights to send American football in Sweden the two coming years. The agreement ensures that IFAF World Championship Stockholm2015 and the Swedish championship finales XXIX and XXX, 2014 and 2015 respectively will be distributed through the channels of TV4-group.

- American football is on an upward trend in Sweden and there are great possibilities that the world championship here at home in Sweden will be what moves the sport to the next level. We look forward to make the Swedish games available to a large audience in TV12, says Hans Pekkari, channel manager at TV12 and TV4 Sport.

Next year Stockholm will host the 5^th IFAF World Championships, a tournament that is played at the Tele2 Arena between July 4 – 18 2015. Twelve nations from six continents will compete for the trophy. The Swedish games and the finale will be aired on TV12 and all the other games in TV4 Sport. All games will be aired on TV4 Play.

This year TV4 Sport will broadcast SM-Final XXIX, Swedish championship game on September 7^th at 2PM, (8AM EST) live from Tele2 Arena in Stockholm. This is the same venue that will be the home for the World championship. It is a dome stadium, a modern facility built in 2013, that has 30.000 seat capacity and a retractable roof.

- We are happy to have entered an agreement with TV4-group that is long term. It is important for the growing crowd that want to watch football, that they can do so at ther convenience, whether it is broadcast or online. In TV4-group we have a competent partner that can serve these need and help us grow the sport, says Andreas Ekman communication director for the Stockholm2015 LOC and the Swedish championships.

Sweden, USA, Japan, Korea, Germany, Austria, France, Canada, Mexico and Australia are so far the qualified teams for the championship. The twelve nations will compete in four groups. Grouping and schedule will be determined during the fall of 2014.
For more information, please contact:

Media relations at TV4 Sport: Martin Nersing, +46 768 98 85 38

Communications Director Stockholm 2015 LOC: Andreas Ekman, +46 70 669 55 11
andreas.ekman(@)stockholm2015.org

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International Cheer Union (ICU) and International Federation of American Football (IFAF) highlight each of their sports at the 2015 IFAF World Championships Stockholm2015

PR Newswire

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, August 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/– From 4-18 July 2015, the SportAccord recognized world governing bodies for their independent respective sports—the International Cheer Union (Cheerleading) and the International Federation of American Football (American Football)—will highlight each of their sports at the 2015 IFAF World Championships, to be held in Stockholm, Sweden.

Both sports, Cheerleading and American Football, have a rich 100-year history originating from USA university sporting venues in the late 1800’s. More than 100 years later, both sports are thriving and growing rapidly on all continents around the world. In 2015, ICU and IFAF will collaborate to showcase their individual sports at the 2015 IFAF World Championships to be held 4-18 July 2015.

“This is quite an exciting time for both the sports of American Football and Cheerleading,” said Karl Olson, ICU’s Secretary General.  “What began more than 100 years ago at a USA university campus for both of our sports is now growing individually around the world on all continents at a very rapid pace.”

Tommy Wiking, IFAF’s President added, “Cheerleading and American Football obviously have a long history of working together, American Football athletes on the gridiron, and Cheerleading athletes in the same venue entertaining the American Football spectators. The 2015 IFAF World Championships will bring together both of these great sports at one event, promoting an atmosphere of national pride for both the American Football and Cheerleading fans in this uniquely historical and now famous game environment.”

As a complement to IFAF’s American Football’s qualified National Teams traveling to Stockholm for the 2015 IFAF World Championships, ICU’s respective National Cheer Federations plan to send their own National Cheer Teams to Stockholm to support and perform during for their Nation’s American Football Team games and also compete against the other National Cheer Teams for a 2015 World Cheerleading Game Day Championship title.

ICU President Jeff Webb commented, “Cheerleading is certainly a unique Sport that not only is very competitive in Cheerleading competition, but Cheerleading also has to ability to enhance game environments for other Sporting events- it’s our history. ICU values the great relationship we have with the IFAF organization and IFAF President Tommy Wiking, as well as all members of the International Sport Federation family. The 2015 IFAF World Championships will be a wonderful event.”

Currently, ten (10) American Football teams have qualified for the 2015 IFAF World Championships: Austria, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Sweden and the USA, and two (2) more nations will qualify within the next five (5) months. The respective National Cheer Teams of each of these nations are also preparing to attend the 2015 IFAF World Championships in support of their teams, as well as to compete for the 2015 ICU World Cheerleading Game Day Championship title

About IFAF and ICU The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) is the world governing body for American Football and the International Cheer Union (ICU) is the world governing body for Cheerleading. More information can be found on www.ifaf.org, stockholm2015.org and www.cheerunion.org. Photography is available upon request. Contact Michael Ryan at info@ifaf.org (American Football) or Sheila Noone at icumediarequest@gmail.com (Cheerleading) for more information.

Contact:

International Federation of American Football (IFAF)

Michael Ryan

info@ifaf.org

Stockholm 2015 Organizing Committee

Andreas Ekman
+46 70 669 55 11
Andreas.ekman@stockholm2015.org

International Cheer Union (ICU)

Sheila Noone
+1.901.251.5959
ICUmediarequest@gmail.com

SOURCES:

International Federation of American Football

International Cheer Union

Stockholm 2015 OC

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The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Senior World Championship is held every four years, and in 2015 the tournament will feature an unprecedented twelve national teams from up to six continents. The Swedish American Football Federation will host the event at the ‘Tele2 Arena’ in the capital city of Stockholm.

The first game will be played on July 4, 2015 culminating with the Gold-Medal game on July 18, 2015. All 24 games of the IFAF tournament, including 12 group games, 6 second round games, four placement games, the Bronze Medal Game and the Gold Medal Game – will be played in the 30,000-seat arena.

As we eagerly await the 2015 tournament, here is a look back on past IFAF Senior World Championships and other fun facts.

IFAF Senior World Championship Past Results:

Year                 Host                 Gold Medal Game                               Bronze Medal Game

1999                 Italy                  Japan 6 Mexico 0 (OT)                           Sweden 38 Italy 13

2003                 Germany           Japan 34 Mexico 14                              Germany 36 France 7

2007                 Japan               United States 23 Japan 20 (2OT)            Germany 7 Sweden 0

2011                 Austria              United States 50 Canada 7                     Japan 17 Mexico 14

Some current Record Holders:

• Mexico’s Jose Maltos kicked a 56-yard field goal in 2011 against Australia to claim a spot in the record books.

• Canada’s Shamawd Chambers holds the record for most receiving yards in a Gold Medal game with 74 yards set in the Gold Medal against USA in 2011.
• Australia’s Locklan Gilbert holds the record for highest average of yards per catch in a game with 35.6 yards set against Germany in 2011.
• Sweden’s Lars Gustafsson holds the record for total rushing yards as he ran for 447 yards in the 1999 Senior World Championship in Italy.
• Ikunori Hanna of Japan holds the record for longest touchdown run with a 59-yard touchdown recorded in the 2003 Gold Medal game against Mexico.
• DaShawn Thomas ran for five touchdowns for Team USA in the 2011. The previous record was four set by Sweden’s Lars Gustafsson in 1999.

• Team Austria holds the record both for rushing attempts (113) and total plays (225) in a tournament set in 2011.
• France’s Arnaud Vidaller holds the record for most tackles in a tournament with 30 tackles collected in 2011.
• The longest pass completion occurred in 2011 when Germany’s Joachim Ullrich connected with Niklas Roemer for 89 yards.

Did you know:

• In 2011, the tournament featured 29 game officials from 12 countries; including two women – one from Austria and another from Serbia
• In 2011, twenty-one players on other national teams in this tournament have either NFL practice squad or NFL Europe experience.
• Japan’s Defensive Tackle Yasuo Wakisaka he has participated in all four IFAF Senior World Championships.
• Former USA running back, Nate Kmicboasts the NCAA’s all-time leading rusher across all divisions set when he played at Mount Union.
• Canada’s 2011 roster featured 13 current CFL players.

As the tournament gets closer we will have more information to announce about the historic event. For all the up-to-date information, you can follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Stockholm2015 and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Stockholm2015. Also, don’t forget to join our newsletter which you can join on our homepage.

We look forward to seeing you all in a year!

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In Austria, they know football. Saturday’s final game at the European Championship 2014 at Ernst Happel stadium in Vienna was nothing less than a spectacular success. And a formidable show of strength for football in Europe especially in Austria. A very competent organizer of the Championship tournament, a large and knowledgeable audience, not to mention a really good football team. The crowd was 27,000 in numbers, but they sure sounded like a lot more, and they gave the event a magical setting. It was a great show from start to finish with lots and lots of cheerleaders, performances and a very fun and exciting European Championship final between the two sporting antagonists Austria and Germany.

A tentative start from both teams, filled by the seriousness of the moment and the crowds roaring cheers. Then the Germans got going with the first touchdown of the evening, at the end of the first quarter. On Austria’s next possession which started within their own 20, they fumbled the ball and the Germans recovered and ran it into the end zone for a 14 – 0 lead.

The next quarter belonged to Austria and with a field goal and a touchdown, where they failed the extra point, the score going into halftime was 9 – 14. The third quarter ended scoreless but there were plenty of great plays on both offense and defense for both teams. At the beginning of the fourth quarter Austria charged into the lead with a touchdown by Margreiter and with a successful two point conversion by quarterback Gross, the score was 17-14 to Austria. This 2-point conversation was needed to make it a tie with a field goal attempt by Germany, which is exactly what happened with four minutes to play, through Hilgenfeldt. This was the final score as the game is tied and headed into overtime. Each team got one drive from the opponents 25 yard line, and the Germans were first out. After some struggle, including one of the two talked about yellow flags for unsportsmanlike conduct in the overtime, the Germans manage to get a touchdown and successful extra point attempt. Now it is Austrians turn to respond and after a great trick play where receiver Stefani in a reverse threw the ball to the quarterback Gross in the end zone and the crowd went wild. On the extra point attempt Austrian kicker Kappel kicked the ball into the goalpost but it had enough good direction and power to get in and make it a successful attempt to tie the game again and forced double overtime.

So new drives for both teams, but this time, Austria is first out. They only managed to put a field goal on the scoreboard, and now the Germans had a chance to claim victory with a touchdown. The Germans managed to get to the Austrian 3-yard line, and with 3rd and goal Austria successfully stopped the Germans short of the goal line. Great play. But the officials found a violation, again for unsportsmanlike conduct, whereupon the Austrians go crazy. So the Germans get automatic first down, and two plays later the quarterback Ehrenfried found Niklas Römer with a pass in the end zone for a touchdown. The game is over, 30-27, in favor of Germany and it is virtually dead silent in the just-so noisy arena. Germany are European champions after a great game on both sides of the ball.

Points per quarter

Earlier in the day, in the Bronze-Medal game France triumphed Finland in a 35 - 21 game, also in the Ernst Happel stadium. This means that Germany, Austria and France are qualified from Europe and together with host nation Sweden will represent the continent in the IFAF World Championship next summer in Stockholm.

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Not only is the sport’s popularity increasing, but so is the global talent.

Such talent will be displayed on a world-wide platform as the fifth installment of the IFAF World Championship kicks off in Stockholm, Sweden from July 4-18, 2015 as record number 12 countries will compete for gold!

With national football federations in existence for more than 70 years, the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) was created in 1998 to organize and further develop the game through international cooperation and global competition. Today, IFAF boosts 66 country federations from six continents.

With the goal of developing a global competition, IFAF organized the first-ever World Championship of American Football in 1999. Today the event has developed into the organization’s showpiece competition showcasing the talent of players across the globe every four years.  

Since the inaugural event in 1999 twelve countries have participated in the tournament including Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Sweden and the United States.

The first world championship took place in Palermo, Italy as six teams from four continents squared off to claim the first ever title. In the end, Japan defeated Mexico in a thrilling 6-0 overtime victory to earn the distinction of first World Champions. The tournament featured more than 330 players and coaches. 

Japan and Mexico would have a Gold-Medal game rematch at the 2003 IFAF World Championship in Frankfurt, Germany. This time around spectators saw more offensive fireworks, as Japan successfully defended its title beating Mexico 34-14 as running back Ikunori Hanna finished the game with 125 yards including a touchdown. The Japanese defensive played a significant role as they forced Mexico into five turnovers – three interceptions and two fumbles. Germany defeated France 36-7 to claim the Bronze Medal.

The third IFAF World Championship was held in Kawasaki, Japan in 2007 as the Japanese looked to earn a Three-Peat. But that year, the competition would see some newcomers as Korea, Sweden and United States joined returners France, Germany and Japan in the tournament.

Both Japan and the United States went 2-0 with dominating victories in the group stage, setting up a Gold-Medal game that was sure to be exciting and it did not disappoint. Team USA outlasted Japan 23-20 in double overtime. Running back Kyle Kasperbauer finished the game with 65 yards and two touchdowns while Japan’s quarterback Yuichi Tomizawa also had an impressive outing throwing for 140 yards and two touchdowns.  

During the nine games of the 2007 IFAF World Championship, more than 22,000 fans flocked to the host stadiums and almost one million people visited the official websites.

The 2011 IFAF World Championship expanded again, as the eight countries looked to earn the title of World Champs in the fourth installment held in Austria. The tournament featured another newcomer as Canada joined the festivities looking to knock off the reigning champs the United States. Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Japan and Mexico also competed in the tournament.

Canada and the United States both finished the group stage 3-0, the two teams squared off in front of a record crowd of 20,000 for the much anticipated Gold-Medal game. But the United States led by talented quarterback Cody Hawkins took control early going into half with a 30-7 lead and would cruise to a 50-7 victory to claim back-to-back gold medals. USA had a balanced attach as Hawkins finished the game throwing for 161 yard and two touchdowns while Henry Harris ran for 105 yards including a five-yard touchdown.

Mexico and Japan met once again, but this time in the Bronze Medal game. Japan continued their streak against the Mexicans winning to 17-14.

As the competition only gets better and bigger from year to year, the 2015 IFAF World Championship is sure to be a spectacular event. Not only will it have a historic twelve teams competing, but the top players and spectators from around the world will have the opportunity to play and observe the historic games in the new Tele2 Stadium in Stockholm, Sweden from July 4-18, 2015.

Will the Americans become the first team to win three consecutive IFAF World Championships or will a team knock off the United States? Only time will tell, but we hope to see you all there!

 Written By Lauren Hickey

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