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October 10, 2009

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Home » Sports » Olympics

Golf and rugby get IOC nod for Games

Source: Agencies | October 10, 2009, Saturday | Print Edition

GOLF and rugby have been approved as Olympic sports.

The International Olympic Committee voted yesterday to include both sports on the program for the 2016 and 2020 Summer Games.

Each sport received majority support in separate votes by the IOC after leading athletes and officials from both camps gave presentations to present their case -- including a video-taped message from Tiger Woods and other top pros. Woods has indicated he would play in the Olympics if golf was accepted for 2016.

"There are millions of young golfers worldwide who would be proud to represent their country," Woods said from the Presidents Cup. "It would be an honor for anyone who plays this game to become an Olympian."

Golf was approved 63-27 with two abstentions. Rugby was voted in 81-8 with one abstention in Copenhagen.

Rugby will organize a four-day seven-a-side tournament for 12 men's and women's teams. Golf will stage a 72-hole strokeplay tournament for men and women, with 60 players in each field.

The vote brings the number of summer Olympic sports back to 28. There have been two openings on the program since baseball and softball were dropped in 2005 for the 2012 London Games.

Four years ago

The vote was a reversal of the IOC's decision four years ago to reject golf and rugby's inclusion in the 2012 Olympics.

Rugby and golf both made their Olympic debuts at the second modern games in Paris in 1900. Golf was only played again at the 1904 St Louis Games, while rugby featured three more times, making its last appearance in the 1924 Paris Olympics.

Their status for the 2020 Olympics will be reviewed by the IOC in 2017.

Yesterday's vote was also a victory for Jacques Rogge, the IOC president who was re-elected to a final four-year term just hours earlier.

"Time will show your decision (on the new sports) was very wise," Rogge said.

Golf and rugby were put forward by the executive board in August, at the expense of five other sports which were cut -- baseball, softball, squash, karate and roller sports. The selection process angered some IOC members, who wanted all seven sports put to a vote by the entire assembly.
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