MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate release – Friday 7 September 2018 WOLLONGONG NAMED AS HOST CITY FOR 2019 IFAF MEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Gridiron Australia is pleased to announce that Wollongong (NSW, Australia) will host the 2019 Men’s World Championship of American Football at the iconic WIN Stadium beside the Pacific Ocean. From Tuesday 23 July – Monday 5 August 2019, 8 teams representing member nations of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) from around the globe will gather in Wollongong for the Men’s World Championship - an international American football competition held every four years. Local gridiron player, Jordan Stalker, is thrilled that the World Championships will be coming to his hometown of Wollongong. In 2012 Jordan was selected to play on the World Team at the 2012 IFAF International Bowl where they historically beat the USA 35 -29. Later that year he represented Australia at the IFAF World U19 Championship Qualifier. Jordan received a full scholarship at the Division 1AA FCS College Gardner Web where he played Offensive Tackle from 2013-2016. Wollongong Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said the event was a wonderful opportunity to showcase Wollongong to an international audience. “What a thrill it is to welcome the American Football World Championships to Wollongong. To have international participants and guests enjoying our attractions, natural assets and small bars and cafes for a fortnight is a coup for the city, as we showcase WIN Stadium to the world. I’m sure the teams will leave with lasting memories of our beautiful region . along with a few bruises after they come up against the Aussies!” Darrin Mitchell, Gridiron Australia Chairman, is ecstatic to be able to host this event in Australia. "The City of Wollongong is an ideal location for us to showcase the game of American Football to Australia and promote Australia to our international friends. Gridiron Australia looks forward to bringing our game to the picturesque WIN Stadium and supporting the Illawarra region". The Hon. Stuart Laurence Ayres MP, Minister for Sport is supportive of the event and said today, “This is the first time an IFAF World Championship will be held on Australian soil,” says Mr Ayres. “Hosting a major international event like this in New South Wales provides more than economic benefits. It puts us on the map globally and demonstrates that Australia can take on the world in an American game,” says Mr Ayres. “For ten days in July and August next year, the seaside city of Wollongong will be the epicentre of gridiron.” Australia has participated in several of the previous IFAF World Championships and the 2019 event will mark the 20th anniversary of IFAF international competition with the first tournament held in 1999 in Palermo, Italy. IFAF Oceania Chairman and Executive Board Member, Michael Ryan, is excited by the event and says that “It’s a tremendous opportunity to showcase the sport in Australia and the Oceania Region and we look forward to welcoming the world’s athletes “down under”. Tickets will be on pre-sale on 1st February 2019 through Ticketmaster. Media contact: Kevin Wilson Gridiron Australia Communications Director [email protected] 0407 470 828 Page 1 of 3 MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate release – Friday 7 September 2018 About Gridiron Australia Gridiron Australia has been the recognized governing body of American Football (gridiron) in Australia since 1996 and is a proud member of the Oceania Federation of American Football (OFAF). The sport of gridiron has been formally played in Australia for 38 years. It was first played socially in 1979 in Sydney, Australia with the first formal competitions commencing in 1984. Gridiron in Australia is played on an amateur basis and is administrated, coached and officiated by volunteers who have a great passion and commitment to the sport. There are currently 7 of the 8 states and territories of Australia that play the sport of American Football with approximately 5000 participants comprising of more than 70 teams playing football country wide. In 1999, Australia participated in the inaugural World Cup of American Football held in Italy. In total, Australia has previously competed in 6 World Championships: • 1999 Inaugural Men’s World Championship of American Football – Held in Italy • 2011 Men’s World Championship – Held in Austria • 2015 Men’s World Championship – Held in USA • 2016 U19 World Championship – Held in China • 2017 Women’s World Championship – Held in Canada • 2018 U19 World Championship – Held in Mexico About International Federation of American Football (IFAF) IFAF is the international governing body for the sport of American football and is responsible for all regulatory, competition, performance and development aspects of the game on a global level. Its mission and purpose include the following: • The organisation and promotion of all amateur international competitions across both contact and non-contact versions of the game. The promotion of the game and the provision of educational and innovative resources for the football community to help strengthen the growth of American Football for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. • The regulation of the game on and off the field of play through oversight of its rules. • The recognition and support of national federations as they develop the game in their respective countries. • The representation of the global game to international partners, be they sporting organisations, federations or commercial interests. IFAF is registered in France as a non-profit organisation. The organisations work is led by the IFAF Presidium which is part of the IFAF Executive Board. IFAF has five continental federations - Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Page 2 of 3 MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate release – Friday 7 September 2018 About the IFAF Men’s World Championship The IFAF Men’s World Championship is an international American football competition contested by teams representing member nations and continental federations. The tournament has been held every four years since 1999. The 2019 World Championship will be the 6th instance of this event marking the 20th anniversary of international tournaments. The previous host countries have been: • Italy 1999 • Germany 2003 • Japan 2007 • Austria 2011 • United States 2015 • Australia 2019 Roll of Honour • 1999: Gold: Japan; Silver: Mexico; Bronze: Sweden • 2003: Gold: Japan; Silver: Mexico; Bronze: Germany • 2007: Gold: United States; Japan; Bronze: Germany • 2011: Gold: United States; Silver: Canada; Bronze: Japan • 2015: Gold: United States; Silver: Japan; Bronze: Mexico About Jordan Stalker Jordan Stalker is an Illawarra Gridiron player who plays for the Wollongong Mustangs. In 2012, Jordan was selected to play on the World Team at the 2012 IFAF International Bowl where they historically beat the USA 35 -29. Later that year he represented Australia at the IFAF World U19 Championship. Jordan then received a full scholarship at the Division 1AA FCS College Gardner Web where he played Offensive Tackle from 2013- 2016. Page 3 of 3 .