IOC welcomes new sport
www.fijitimes.com - Sunday, October 11, 2009
COPENHAGEN, AAP - Golf and rugby union sevens will be included as sports at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced.
IOC members rubber-stamped the two sports at a congress here after the executive board had voted to include them at a meeting in August.
Rugby sevens received 81 votes for and eight against with one abstention, while golf had 63 for and 27 against with two members abstaining.
The two sports will be included in the programme for the 2016 Rio Games, bringing the number of sports there to the IOC's stated maximum of 28.
Rugby sevens will see 12 teams each in men's and women's competition, with the sport's governing body the IRB having pledged to end its showpiece World Cup Sevens tournament.
The International Golf Federation has promised that the world's best will take part in Olympic golf, which will see 60 players in both the men and women's competitions facing off over 72 holes.
"We are elated that the IOC membership has accepted golf as an Olympic sport, and look forward to seeing the world's best golfers compete for gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro," said Ty Votaw, executive director of the IGF's Olympic Golf Committee, which has coordinated golf's Olympic bid. "We have received unprecedented support from international golf organisations throughout this process, as well as from the world's top-ranked men and women players."
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