From February 22nd to March 1st, American Football Without Barriers (AFWB) will conduct their 5th annual international training camp and charity visit in Helsinki, Finland featuring 12 professional American football players. AFWB has partnered with the Finnish American Football League – Suomen Amerikkalaisen Jalkapallon Liitto (SAJL) – to bring this unique experience to Scandinavia for the first time. After successful camps in China, Brazil, Turkey and Egypt, the NFL players are heading to Finland to share their passion and professional skills with the country’s emerging fan base.
The 11 NFL professional athletes will include:
Johnson Bademosi, DB/ST – Detroit Lions, Gary Barnidge, TE – Cleveland Browns, Kevin Hogan, QB – Cleveland Browns, Jordan Cameron, TE – Miami Dolphins, Alex Mack, OL – Atlanta Falcons, Ben Garland, OL – Atlanta Falcons, Cooper Helfet, TE – Oakland Raiders, DeAngelo Williams, RB – Pittsburgh Steelers, Zach Mettenberger, QB – Pittsburgh Steelers, Roosevelt Nix, RB – Pittsburgh Steelers, Barkevious Mingo, LB – New England Patriots
About the 2017 Camp
On February 22nd NFL players will arrive in Helsinki, Finland and be introduced to Finland Culture via various activities during the week including:
- HIFK Hockey game where recent Super Champion – Barkevious Mingo – will be dropping the opening puck
- Guests at the Lahit 2017 ski championships – https://www.lahti2017.fi/node/1400
- Traditional Finnish Activities like Ice Swimming, Saunas, and Winter Skiing Sports and Foods like Salmon Soup
From February 25th to 27th the NFL players will conduct on-field technical skill building and leadership sessions with men, women and children. These training sessions are being organized by SAJL in coordination with AFWB. The players will also hold a Coaches Clinic on February 27th providing a first hand account of the real day-to-day life in the NFL and Q&A where coaches can ask about strategy, plays, and training techniques.
As part of their global goodwill tour, the players have will be performing community outreach and will be visiting various non-profits in Finland as well as assisting with media requests to help promote American Football in Finland.
About SAJL
SAJL was founded in 1979. Our mission is to organize and promote American football and its different variations elite and recreational playing by spreading knowledge of the game in Finland together with our quality member clubs as well as being active participant in international American football bodies. Currently SAJL has 39 member clubs and 3300 license participants in men’s and women’s leagues as well as in six different youth categories. SAJL is member of Finnish Olympic Committee and International Federation of American Football IFAF.
About American Football Without Barriers
American Football Without Barriers is a non-profit organization dedicated to globalizing American football and reaching underprivileged communities with a humanitarian message. In addition to international camps, AFWB hosts several camps in the U.S. aimed at teaching underprivileged kids to play American football. To learn more about American Football Without Barriers please visit our website.
For more information visit www.sajl.fi