Grey Cup, Olympics build flag football hype for high school athletes

It's a different type of football being played at this Calgary Athletic Park in the run-up to this weekend's Grey Cup final. It's an exciting game to watch. It's very fast-paced. It's creative. I find that it's a very creative sport. When you look on, especially on the offensive side, like no two offenses are alike. And I think that it has a mix of so many different other sports that it attracts so many different athletes. More than 120 players from across the province are taking part in the Grey Cup Flag Football Championship, representing all nine CFL clubs. The sport is just evolving so much, and we want to give opportunities to girls in the province where the Grey Cup is happening to play a high level of flag football. And the opportunity to wear all the CFL Club jerseys as well. It all comes as flag football gains momentum nationally, following Canada's gold medal at the 2026 World Championships. I got into the sport because my friends play. And I think it would be a really good opportunity for like a second sport in the summer. And I love it. The game because it's like all the girls are always positive and it's like a community. I used to play a lot at recess with my friends and my brothers and then once I got into high school there's like an opportunity for it and I really like throwing the ball so I decided to sign up and I actually really like it. The sport makes its Olympic debut at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. Dan McGarvey, CBC News, Calgary.