The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) and the National Football League (NFL) have announced the addition of three athletes to the Global Flag Football Ambassador program.

Kodie Fuller of Australia, Gabi Bankhardt of Brazil, and Benjamin Klever of Germany join an all-star team of men and women in the flag footballing world to further raise the global profile and promote the unique values of one of the world’s fastest-growing sports.

The three new ambassadors are all currently in Finland for the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships which will finish today with the men's final between the United States and Austria at 18:15 CET followed by the women's final between Mexico and the United States at 19:30 CET.

The 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships have seen more than 600 athletes from 54 international teams compete for the world title this year with even more attention since it was announced that the sport will make a historic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

“We are delighted to announce Gabi Bankhardt, Kodie Fuller and Ben Klever as our newest Global Flag Football Ambassadors, as these athletes take to the field at the biggest-ever edition of the IFAF Flag Football World Championships,” said IFAF President, Pierre Trochet. 

“These incredible athletes, from three different continents, embody flag football's values and demonstrate the worldwide impact flag football is creating. Their stories will inspire more fans to get involved with the sport, especially as we continue to build towards our Olympic debut at LA28."

Brazil's Bankhardt has been playing flag football since 2017 and has now established herself as one of Brazil's most prominent flag football athletes becoming captain of the Brazilian National Flag Football team and helping coach both men’s and women’s teams across multiple levels.

"It is a privilege to be named a Global Flag Football Ambassador, Flag football is an inclusive and accessible way to play our sport and its extraordinary growth all over the world is a testament to this" she said. "As we look ahead to the LA 2028 Olympics, I am so excited to use my platform to inspire the next generation of women and girls in Brazil and beyond to pick up this athletic, fast and creative format."

Australia's Brisbane native Kodie Fuller played tackle football for nine years before switching to flag football to participate in the inaugural Australian Flag Football team and then competed in the 2023 Asia Oceania Championship in Kuala Lumpur where Australia won silver.

“As soon as I started playing flag football, I fell in love with the game. Flag is a great entry point to our sport that creates incredible sporting and social opportunities, and it is an honour to be part of this global movement," said Fuller. “I'm excited to showcase the energy and dynamism of flag to the next generation – starting right here at the IFAF Flag Football World Championships."

Germany's Ben Klever was introduced to flag football via NFL Europe in 2002 while studying in Frankfurt, Germany. He joined his local flag football team Walldorf Wanderers and went on to win seven consecutive German Championship titles before attending multiple world and European championships.

“My passion for flag football started when I was introduced to the format in 2002, so it is a pleasure to now be named a Global Flag Football Ambassador alongside incredible players from the NFL and American football worldwide,” said Klever. “Being part of the growth of the game over the last twenty years has been amazing and as an ambassador I am looking forward to championing even more opportunities for fans to get involved and play flag."