Community, Inclusivity, and a Potential Olympic Future

Eddie Khalatian, a 33-year-old global finance manager, found a silver lining when the pandemic hit shortly after he moved to a downtown Toronto condo. The shared turf space provided ample room for social distancing while playing Frisbee.

The casual Frisbee encounters quickly evolved into an Instagram group chat, coordinating throwing sessions and Ultimate Frisbee scrimmages. The group eventually grew to 32 members. As the pandemic eased, some of the group continued playing together as a team in recreational leagues.

Ultimate, which originated in the northeastern high school and college scene in the late 1960s, has since spread across North America, Asia, and Europe. The game involves two teams of seven players who advance a disc by passing it along a rectangular field, similar to football or soccer. A team scores by catching a throw in the opponent's end zone.

The Vancouver Ultimate League estimates over 30,000 recreational players in Canada. The appeal for dedicated players lies in the art of disc movement. Stancil Johnson, a competitive American player and member of the International Frisbee Hall of Fame, once described the essence of the game with the quote, "When a ball dreams, it dreams it's a Frisbee."

The game is self-officiated, which is a core element of Ultimate's community culture, and features many co-ed teams. Khalatian, who plays for Zen Ultimate in the competitive Toronto MXD mixed-gender league, emphasizes that inclusivity is the norm in Ultimate.

His partner, Maggie Chen, a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, finds the game endlessly satisfying. She appreciates the dynamic nature of the sport, where she can use both her mind and body to adapt to different opponents.

Chen, who grew up figure skating competitively, sees the sport's potential for longevity and cross-generational appeal. She believes that with smart training, health, and commitment, players can continue to grow as Ultimate athletes indefinitely.

Dax Miller, a rising star in the sport, was drawn to the community aspect. He plays on multiple teams, including the varsity team at Queen's University, the Canadian U24 national team, the Toronto Goat club team, and the semi-pro team Toronto Rush.

Miller was introduced to Ultimate in his early years through a dedicated coach and his parents, who played in the 1990s and started a major sports and social club that includes Ultimate leagues. After a period as a competitive skier, he returned to Ultimate when he decided to move away from individual sports.

Ultimate is now being considered as a potential future Olympic sport, and organizers across Canada have established a high-performance juniors pipeline. The game attracts anyone seeking a fun and welcoming sports culture. Miller highlights that the spirit of the game is about promoting fairness and honesty.