Copenhagen - The sports of golf and rugby sevens have been voted today by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session for inclusion in the program of the 2016 Olympic Games - awarded last Friday to Rio de Janeiro. The two sports had been recommended by the IOC Executive Board (EB) in August following an extensive evaluation by the Olympic Program Commission of the seven sports seeking to enter the program.
“Both golf and rugby are very popular sports with
global appeal and a strong ethic,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge.
“They will be great additions to the Games.”
The two sports, voted on separately in
alphabetical order of the sports, golf then rugby, received a simple
majority of votes cast by the members of the Session. The result of the
first vote was not revealed to the Session until the vote for the
second sport had taken place. The IOC President elected not to take
part in the vote.
“The International Golf Federation is
absolutely delighted by today’s results. We thank the IOC for the
thorough process and we are looking forward to playing our part as a
member of the Olympic Movement,” said Peter Dawson, Secretary General
of the International Golf Federation. “This is great for golf and we
hope to be of great benefit to the Olympic Games as well.”
Bernard Lapasset, President of the
International Rugby Board, said: “I am so delighted and proud. My
thanks to the IOC members for their wonderful support. Rugby is honored
to be a part of the Olympic Sports Program and we are already looking
forward to Rio 2016.”
Golf was played at the Games in 1900 in Paris
and in 1904 in St Louis, while rugby was part of the program of four
editions of the Games between 1900 and 1924.
In addition to the two new sports, the Session
also voted to accept the list of 26 core sports on the program for the
Olympic Games in 2016.
During the 119th Session in Guatemala City in
2007, the IOC approved a simplified voting process for new sports to
enter the program. The IOC members also requested guidance from the EB
in the selection of the new sports and entrusted it to make a proposal
to the Session based on the work of the Olympic Program Commission.
In 2002, the IOC decided to conduct a systematic review of the Olympic program after every edition of the Games to ensure that it remains exciting and relevant.
Format
of the golf competition for the Games proposed by the International
Golf Federation (IGF): eight-day competition (four for men and four for
women) with 60 men and 60 women. Both men and women play 72 holes of
stroke play, 18 holes per day. Medals will be awarded to the three
competitors with the lowest total score. For more information:
www.internationalgolffederation.org
Format of the rugby
competition for the Games proposed by the International Rugby Board
(IRB): two to four days of competition of rugby sevens. Teams will be
split into two pools of six with a total of 12 men’s teams and 12
women’s teams (288 athletes). The two top teams in each pool will
qualify for semi-finals. For more information:
www.irb.com
