It was just Thursday morning that I learned of the international competition about to take place just a few miles from my home. After hearing a brief news article on the radio, I went online to find more information and to secure a ticket to the event’s opening day activities. What little I now know about the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) and the World Ultimate Club Championships (WUCC) I’ve learned in the last two days. One of the first things I learned is that “Ultimate” is the name of the game itself. It is one of the few bits of silliness remaining in a game involving descendants of pans used by a pie company founded in 1871 by a guy named Frisbie.
The opening picture shows the flags of the thirty countries participating in the 2022 WUCC ready to be carried onto the field. The sequence is alphabetical from Argentina through Venezuela. As the host country, the United States comes on last.
After marching past the stands, the flag carriers form a line in the middle of the playing field. Here the USA takes up the appropriate position a few spots from the end. Some speeches follow but they are not overly long. This is the second time the WUCC have been held in the Cincinnati area. The first was in 2018. The 2022 games were originally scheduled to take place in the UK. When problems developed, the success of those 2018 games was remembered and Cincinnati was asked to play host once again.
As the flag bearers left the field, nearby sharp eyes located a plane circling overhead. Before long, three shapes emerged and three parachutes opened. Delivery of the American flag was accompanied by the singing of The Star Spangled Banner.
The day’s only game followed the opening ceremonies and I got to see live Ultimate for the first time. In the short time since making plans to attend, I’d learned enough of the rules for a basic understanding of the on-field action. Ultimate is a contactless sport. The flying disc (a.k.a., Frisbee) is advanced only by throwing. A point is scored by a catch in the endzone.
The Traffic from Canada played the MUD from Japan. The game is played to fifteen points with a halftime break at eight points. The teams essentially alternated scoring during the first half and were only once separated by more than a point. That’s also how the second half began but eventually team MUD pulled away. These pictures show the final point of their 15-10 win.
There are 128 teams competing all week at Mason High School and the Lebanon Sports Complex. I really enjoyed watching my first game and just might get back for more. The final games and closing ceremonies are next Saturday. Daily tickets for Sunday through Friday are $5. Closing day tickets are $20. Get ’em here.