U.S. Embassy, Marines partner with local gridiron body

The United States Marine Detachment and PNG American Football Federation players during a friendly flag football match at Ela Beach *(Image: Supplied)*

The United States Embassy, the U.S. Marine Detachment, and the Papua New Guinea American Football Federation Inc [PNGAFF] recently partnered to host a friendly flag football match at Ela Beach in Port Moresby.

The sporting event organized last weekend was part of the "Freedom 250" global celebrations, marking the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence.

The match brought together embassy staff, U.S. Marines, and local PNGAFF athletes in a spirited display of sportsmanship aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties between the United States and Papua New Guinea.

U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Alex Berenberg expressed his excitement over bringing a staple of American culture to local shores.

"We are so excited to bring this part of American culture and our way of life here to Papua New Guinea," Berenberg said.

"It is a great way for us to share ties between our two peoples and to get to know one another, because this is so important to us as Americans. As we celebrate our 250th anniversary of independence, we like to bring a little piece of the USA to PNG."

Sharing the American and PNG culture through gridiron *(Image: Supplied)*

PNGAFF president Timothy Dom Jim welcomed the partnership, stating it was a massive step for the code's growth in the country.

"PNG American Football started off in 2020. We have been running this flag football program for the last six years now," Jim said.

"We are really grateful to respect the culture of America here in Papua New Guinea through our sports. It is a great honor to have the United States Embassy and the U.S. Marines come on board to support us and run this program."

The PNGAFF was incorporated in 2020 and formally affiliated with the International Federation of American Football [IFAF] in 2021. The federation is currently in its early stages of expanding American football competitions across the country.

According to the embassy, the weekend fixture is part of a broader series of Freedom 250 activities taking place at U.S. diplomatic missions globally to foster bilateral partnerships through community engagement.