The Los Angeles Chargers have strengthened their presence in Greece with a series of initiatives in Thessaloniki and Athens aimed at promoting Flag Football ahead of its inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Over two days, more than 500 young athletes took part in NFL Flag Football Camps organised in collaboration with local partners, before the visit concluded with a Super Bowl Night Watch Party in Athens.
The first camp was held in Thessaloniki at Pinewood American International School at the Anatolia Campus, where more than 300 young participants trained under the guidance of Chargers staff and representatives of the Hellenic Flag Football League. Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley attended the session, sharing insights from his experience competing in the National Football League and engaging directly with students.
While in Thessaloniki, the Chargers delegation also met with Mayor Stelios Angeloudis and participated in an event organised in cooperation with the United States Embassy in Greece and the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce at the American Space.
A second camp followed in Athens at The American College of Greece, where more than 200 students took part. The campus facilities were adapted to simulate an NFL-style training environment, with representatives from the academic community, government officials and the United States Embassy present. Henley again joined the programme, reinforcing the emphasis on youth development and grassroots engagement.
The visit culminated on Sunday, 8 February, with a Super Bowl Night Watch Party hosted at the studios of COSMOTE TV, the official NFL broadcaster in Greece. The event brought together US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Theoharis, Secretary General of Sport George Mavrotas, athletes, journalists and members of the Chargers organisation.
Guests watched the Super Bowl live and attended what organisers described as the first NFL live pre-game show staged in Greece. Participants included Chargers Chief of Staff Fred Maas, Senior Director of Football Development Zac Emde and Daiyan Henley.
Flag Football was officially approved for inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee in 2023. The non-contact format of American football replaces physical tackling with the removal of flags worn at a player’s waist to stop play. It retains core elements of the traditional game, including passing, running and scoring in the end zone, but is designed to be more accessible and widely adaptable. The format will feature both men’s and women’s competitions at the Olympic debut in Los Angeles.
Speaking about the Chargers’ involvement in Greece, Chief of Staff Fred Maas said, “One of Greece’s greatest strengths is its deep passion for sport, and we truly want to begin our efforts with the youth here.
“With the 2028 Olympic year approaching, the prospect of bringing our players to Greece and hopefully being able to stage a game here in the future reflects our ambition to introduce official NFL American football to the country. This initiative is especially meaningful for the legacy of the Spanos family and their vision of building something lasting and impactful in Greece.”
The Chargers are owned by the Spanos family, whose heritage traces back to Greece. The organisation has increasingly positioned Greece as a focal point for grassroots Flag Football development as the sport prepares for its Olympic debut in Los Angeles.
All activities were supported by the United States Embassy in Greece, highlighting the use of sport as a vehicle for youth engagement and cultural exchange. The collaboration between the Chargers, educational institutions, local authorities and diplomatic representatives reflects a broader effort to strengthen ties between Greece and the United States through sport.
For more information on upcoming initiatives in Greece, visit www.chargers.com or follow the Chargers Greece on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chargersgreece/
Photo credit: All photos © Los Angeles Chargers
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