Beijing will be the host of the sixth NFL Flag Football World Championships during August 16-21, the NFL CEO Paul Tagliabue announced in Beijing on Saturday.

Flag football, which is the basic stage of the professional American football and even more safe, has been launched in three big cities as in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in China since 2003.

Coming for the Fortune Global Forum which is to kick off in Beijing on May 15, the commissioner of the National Football League said ten teams from the United States, Mexico, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, three European teams and China will participate in the six-day worlds.

"I'm pleased to announce that Beijing is selected as the host of the flag football world championships," said Tagliabue, the most influential person in sports ranked by the Sporting News in early 2005.

It boosted more than 50,000 teenagers of 12-14 years old from 84 middle schools to learn and enjoy the sport. One team from Beijing even competed in the worlds in last year and finished ninth among ten squads.

Zhao Xiulei, a 14-year-old quarterback from last year's worlds team, said: "We were excited but lack of experience in last worlds. This year, I wish my school can win the title in China and compete in the worlds for the second time. We're a better team now and we hope to have a better results."

The Chinese National Championships will start in June with winners from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou competing for the ticket to the worlds.

(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2005)