Minnesota Vikings star Camryn Bynum is returning to the Philippines—his Filipina mother’s and wife’s homeland—not just to visit, but to help grow Flag football in preparation for the sport’s Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
Bynum, whose mother, Jen, is a third-generation Filipino-American, has deep ties to the country through his nonprofit, the Bynum Faith Foundation. The organization provides aid to underprivileged communities in both the U.S. and the Philippines, supporting food distribution, home rebuilding, education, and sports programs. Now, he is using his platform to boost Flag football’s presence in the country.
Growing Flag Football in the Philippines
Flag football, a non-contact version of American football, is played by over 20 million people across 100 countries, including the Philippines. The sport emphasizes speed and agility, making it well-suited for Filipino athletes.
Bynum discovered that the Philippines already had a small but passionate Flag football community through Flag Football Philippines, an organization affiliated with the Philippine Olympic Committee. Inspired by the players’ dedication, he launched Camp Beezy, a training camp designed to develop skills and raise awareness for the sport.
Now in its fourth edition, Camp Beezy offers players of all experience levels the opportunity to train under professional coaches and even NFL athletes. Past guest trainers have included Nikko Remigio (Kansas City Chiefs), Elijah Hicks (Chicago Bears), and Jaylinn Hawkins (New England Patriots). The camp combines hands-on training, strategy sessions, and a friendly tournament to enhance players’ skills.
A Path to the Olympics
With Flag football set to debut at LA28, Bynum believes the Philippines has a real chance to shine. In an interview with The Game, he shared, “I think there’s so much good talent out here, especially among Filipinos. We love basketball, and that’s a really athletic sport, you have to be fast, you have to be quick, so the fact that they’re getting into Flag football now, it’s just a matter of experience and people actually playing the game.”
RIESA Management, Inc., a locally-grown service hospitality company, has partnered with the Bynum Faith Foundation to further develop the sport in the country. RIESA COO Anthony Raymond, an avid Flag football player, sees great potential in Filipinos excelling at the game.
“We believe that Flag football is a sport that Filipinos can excel in. The Philippines has put so much into professional sports such as basketball but we have yet to qualify for the Olympics. Maybe it’s time for us to groom Filipino athletes that suit our best physical attributes—speed, agility, and quickness,” Raymond said.
With growing interest from companies and organizations, RIESA’s support aims to jumpstart Flag football’s expansion in the Philippines and possibly form a national training pool for Olympic qualification.
Training the Next Generation
The Camp Beezy Vol. 4, last February 20-22, 2025, at Vermosa, gathered 75 of the best Filipino and Asian Flag football players for an intensive three-day experience. Participants underwent NFL-style training, including coaching, strategy sessions, and physical therapy, to immerse themselves in the life of a professional athlete. The goal is to identify top talent who can help build a Philippine team for LA28.
To celebrate the camp’s success, RIESA hosted a special lunch on February 23 for Bynum and his team at Buglas Isla Cafe in Alabang, one of the company’s individually distinct lifestyle boutique hotels and restaurants which include Hotel Dumaguete, Cala Laiya, La Mensa Dumaguete, and Buglas Isla Cafe whose popularity and success in Dumaguete prompted the company to open branches in Arcovia, Pasig; Alabang, Westgate, and Batangas.
Raymond hopes this partnership signals the beginning of Flag football’s rise in the country. “I am hoping one day, Flag football can be an after-school sports activity offered for boys and girls in grade schools, high school, and college,” he added.
Bynum remains committed to the mission and is confident that Filipino athletes have the speed, intelligence, and work ethic to excel. He hopes to see a Philippine Flag football team competing in the Olympics soon with continued efforts.
Be Part of the Movement
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Source: Good News Pilipinas
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