WFDF will promote a youth-oriented, mixed-gender version of the Flying Disc sport of Ultimate
The World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF), the international federation for the sport of flying disc, is launching its campaign for inclusion in the Olympic summer programme in Los Angeles in 2028. WFDF will propose its newly developed Ultimate 4’s match format for competition and quota purposes.
“Flying Disc is an incredibly attractive sport for the Olympic Games and we are formally working to be on the programme in Los Angeles in 2028,” stated WFDF President Robert “Nob” Rauch. “Flying Disc, or frisbee, is a quintessential Southern California sport, with the first flying discs being commercially produced starting in 1948 in the Los Angeles area. The sport has huge international appeal, and the leading Flying Disc disciplines are now played in more than 120 countries, of which 100 nations are currently members of WFDF.”
“WFDF intends to propose mixed gender Ultimate 4’s as the event, which can be played in existing venues on either grass in a football or soccer stadium, or on the beach,” continued Rauch. “Our format for this team event fully embraces gender equality, and mixed team competition has been our format at The World Games since our debut in 2001. Our sport appeals to today’s youthful audience and would be an appealing addition to the LA28 programme. We are coordinating closely with our member federation in the USA, USA Ultimate, in our approach to the decision-making groups.”
Ultimate 4’s has been developed for multisport games and particularly targets Olympic programme inclusion, fully acknowledging the constraints of time, space, and athletes’ quota, while preserving the essential qualities of the sport. The rules feature mixed-gender, four-on-four play with six-member teams, running-time games with two 18-minute halves for a total game time of around 45-48 minutes. The rules are adaptable for virtually all grass or beach venues with field dimensions of 45 meters long by 25 meters wide, with two 15-meter deep endzones.
“This new format is an exciting addition to our sport,” said WFDF Vice President and Ultimate Chair Brian Gisel. “Ultimate 4’s is designed to showcase athleticism and throwing ability, keep the game moving, and to adapt the game for fans reached through broadcast media as much as in-stadium spectators. The limited number of players on the field makes for a very brisk pace of play and ensures that both the men and women need to be fully engaged, and the size of the field means that scoring can come from anywhere at any time.”
The Ultimate 4’s format of the rules was recently showcased at the USA Ultimate National Championships in San Diego, USA in October.