Abu Dhabi to host first-ever NFL event rewarding players in Bitcoin
Part of Bitcoin MENA 2024
The Bitball Flag Football tournament, the first-ever NFL event in which winners will be rewarded in Bitcoin, will feature some of the biggest names in American football when it is held at 7pm (GST) on December 10, 2024, at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Russell Okung, an 11-year NFL veteran and Super Bowl champion launched Bitball, a flag football league where players are paid in Bitcoin. Okung is the first professional athlete to receive his salary in Bitcoin. His 2020 Bitcoin salary conversion (240 BTC) is now worth approximately $21 million.
The Abu Dhabi event will feature 24 NFL legends, including Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell, Johnson Bademosi, Jurrell Casey, Dez Bryant, Mohammad Sanu, and Michael Thomas. It is a key part of Bitcoin MENA 2024, the largest global gathering of Bitcoin investors, developers, and stakeholders.
Middle East News 247 is a Media Partner of Bitcoin MENA 2024.
The pioneering flag football tournament – blending sports, technology, and finance – aligns with Okung’s vision to empower athletes through Bitcoin, a movement gaining momentum worldwide.
George Mekhail from BTC, the Bitball Flag Football tournament organiser, said: “The flag football match at our Bitcoin event is no accident—it embodies the collaboration and resilience of the Bitcoin community. Russell Okung’s forward-thinking push to integrate Bitcoin with sports brings this revolutionary idea into mainstream awareness.”
Flag football, recently made the official game of the NFL Pro Bowl and confirmed for the 2028 Summer Olympics, is quickly gaining popularity. The event highlights the sport’s global rise, with flag football’s organised participation expected to outpace tackle football in the coming years.
All ticket holders for the Bitcoin MENA conference will have free access to watch the match live. Separate tickets for the Bitball game are also available for purchase at playbitball.com. The event will be live-streamed on Bitcoin Magazine’s digital platforms (X, Rumble, and YouTube), allowing global audiences to witness the historic fusion of Bitcoin and professional football.
Hero image: Russell Okung, an 11-year NFL veteran and Super Bowl champion, launched Bitball, a flag football league in which players are paid in Bitcoin. Credit: Bitcoin MENA Conference
