American football has taken a step on the road to becoming an Olympic sport. Jon Niese Mets Jersey . The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) received provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee on Tuesday. The recognition comes seven months after the IOC denied the IFAFs initial request for recognition. NFL Vice President of International Operations Chris Parsons told Fox Sports Alex Marvez in May that he believed IOC recognition would "generate incremental interest" in football worldwide. Marvez points out that the football could one day be seen in the Olympics in a less violent seven-on-seven fashion, similar to Rugby Sevens which will debut as an Olympic sport at Rio 2016. The IFAF was formed in 1998 and currently has 66 countries as members, with the organization headquarters in France.  The NFL has attempted to grow its European following with eight games being played in London since 2007 and three games planned for the 2014 season. Other sports to have received Olympic recognition include chess, auto racing and tug of war.Nolan Ryan Authentic Jersey . The Texas Rangers quickly got even, and the right-hander felt like he was starting over when he got back on the mound. Zack Wheeler Mets Jersey . Ecclestone dismissed on Wednesday any clash between the series, after the top executive at Texas Motor Speedway called F1 "arrogant" for scheduling the United States Grand Prix in Austin on the same weekend that his track hosts NASCAR in Fort Worth.One of the top Canadian linemen is calling it quits. Calgary Stampeders offensive guard Dimitri Tsoumpas announced his retirement in a team release on Wednesday. The 27-year-old will stay with the Stampeders as a strength and conditioning assistant. Tsoumpas was a four-time West Division All-Star and three-time CFL All-Star after being selected second overall by the Stamps in 2008. The Weber State product missed most of the 2013 season with a concussion. "I love football and Ive thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Stampeders, so this is a very difficult decision for me to make," Tsoumpas said in a team release. “Ive fully recovered from the concussion that I suffered last season but because of the lengthy and difficult recovery period, I just feel that I needed to errr on the side of caution and put an end to my playing career. Dwight Gooden Jersey. " "Dimitri was a pillar of our offensive line from the day he arrived in Calgary and I thank him for everything he has done for the Stampeders on and off the field over the past six seasons,” Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel in a team release. “His play in the trenches and his strength of character will be greatly missed. I know this wasnt an easy decision for Dimitri and I am very pleased that he has chosen to remain with the club as a strength and conditioning assistant.” Along with his All-Star nods, Tsoumpas was also the teams nominee for Most Outstanding Rookie in 2008, Most Outstanding Canadian in 2009, and Most Outstanding Lineman in 2012. wholesale jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' '