WFDF PRESS RELEASE: Flying Disc Freestyle demonstrations and workshops on display at first African Beach Games

9 July 2019

A group of ambassadors this month traveled to the island of Sal, Cape Verde, to introduce hundreds to Flying Disc Freestyle through demos and workshops, as part of the inaugural African Beach Games, which took place from 14-23 June 2019.

"We could not have been more pleased with the efforts of the six athletes who comprised the Freestyle official demonstration team. This is the singular largest exhibition of Freestyle Flying Disc since the 1970’s and was a perfect promotion opportunity before we see our discipline move on to the first edition of the World Urban Games in September in Budapest," stated Kevin "Skippy" Givens, WFDF Freestyle Committee Chairperson.

The team of six ambassadors from six different countries also made two school visits and hosted a workshop for children organized together with the Sports For Life youth development NGO while on the island. The ambassador team highlighted the values of Spirit of the Game, the low cost of flying disc sports in general, and the uniqueness of Freestyle disc workshops and the sport.

"We are extremely grateful that the Organizing Committee gave us this opportunity to be a part of the event as an official demonstration sport and particularly to SAL 2019 and NOC Cape Verde President Filomena Fortes and Director of Sports & Venues Gabriel Behr for their strong support," commented WFDF President Robert "Nob" Rauch. "Our special thanks go to the six freestyle frisbee athletes who represented WFDF so splendidly and left a great impression on the island."

The first African Beach Games attracted about 1,000 athletes and 500 officials from 54 African countries. Participants competed in beach soccer, beach volleyball, basketball 3x3, kiteboard, beach tennis, beach handball, coastal rowing, karate kata, freestyle football, athletics, and open water swimming.

"All in all, it was an honor for us to be able to be the first ‘spread the jam’ team to make it to the African continent. We saw how much potential there is there. Unlike many other sports, freestyle flying disc is an inexpensive sport that is accessible even for youth who may be coming from difficult backgrounds," expressed the members of the "jambassadors team," which included Benedicte Audet (CAN), Mehrdad Hosseinian (GER), Ayal Benin (ISR), Andrea Festi (ITA), Michał Maciołek (POL), and Daniel O’Neill, (USA).

"Our attempt to ‘spread the jam’ by playing around the city, event site and island and involving the local youth was very successful, with people from all parts of the island recognizing us every day and asking to play with us."

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Best regards,

Volker Bernardi

Executive Director

World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF)

Enggasse 2a, D - 55296 Harxheim, Germany

Mobile: +49 176 64 19 77 02

eMail: volker.bernardi@wfdf.org

Web: www.wfdf.org

About WFDF: The World Flying Disc Federation is the international sports federation responsible for world governance of flying disc (FrisbeeTM) sports, including Ultimate, Beach Ultimate, Guts, and Individual Events. WFDF is a federation of member associations which represent flying disc sports and their athletes in more than 84 countries. WFDF is an international federation recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), a member of ARISF, SportAccord and the International World Games Association, and it is a registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation in the state of Colorado, USA. The WFDF Executive Committee: President Robert L. "Nob" Rauch, Secretary Thomas Griesbaum, Treasurer Kate Bergeron.

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