Golf in 2016 Olympics? (and Rugby too)

**Doug** · 08-13-2009, 10:20 AM

IOC recommends golf for 2016 Olympics

By Cameron Morfit
Senior Writer, GOLF Magazine
Published: August 13, 2009

CHASKA, Minn. — Meeting in Berlin on Thursday, the International Olympic Committee executive board recommended golf be made an Olympic sport for the 2016 Games, raising hopes that the rallying cry for the quadrennial sporting event will soon be citius (swifter), altius (higher), fortius (stronger), Titleist.

The IOC executives also recommended adding rugby, but the sports are not officially in yet. The full IOC assembly will make a final vote in Copenhagen in October.

"We are obviously thrilled with this announcement," said the PGA Tour's Ty Votaw, who for the past year and a half has been spearheading golf's Olympic bid. "It takes [us] an important step closer for golf to return as an Olympic sport."

The host city for the 2016 Games will also be announced in October; the finalists are Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.

Several big-name players had been anticipating Thursday's news, which came as the 91st PGA Championship was getting under way at Hazeltine National Golf Club. Even Tiger Woods sounded ready to show up at another golf tournament.

"I think that golf is truly a global sport, and I think it should have been in the Olympics a while ago," he said on Tuesday. "If it does get in, I think it would be great for golf and especially some of the other smaller countries that are now emerging in golf."

And would Woods play in 2016, if eligible?

"If I'm not retired by then," he said, "yeah."

Lorena Ochoa, the No. 1 player in women's golf, has also expressed her support.

Colin Montgomerie, who helped state golf's case to the IOC in Lausanne, Switzerland, with the PGA Tour's Tim Finchem and Votaw, the R&A's Peter Dawson and then-LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens, said earlier this week, "I just hope and pray" that golf gets the nod. Montgomerie reminded journalists that golf was in fact an Olympic sport in the 1900 and 1904 Olympics.

Others sounded similarly excited even though Olympic golf would have to fit into an already crowded schedule of late-summer tournaments, including the majors and the FedEx Cup.

"I'd love to be an Olympian," Padraig Harrington said. "Doesn't that sound good? Imagine us being Olympic athletes."

"I've always loved watching the Olympics," Sergio Garcia said. "So to be able to be a part of the Olympics will be something unbelievable."

The proposed format is four rounds of stroke play, although that could change. There would be a 60-player men's field and a 60-player women's field; teams would feature the top two eligible players from each country. That also could change.

"We think there has never been a better time to promote golf as a sport, given the level of play on both the men's and the women's tours," said the PGA of America's Joe Steranka.

http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/...916268,00.html

Could Tiger add Olympic Gold Medalist to his list of accomplishments?

**Buk Was Right** · 08-13-2009, 10:21 AM

But not baseball or softball.

Awesome.

**Doug** · 08-13-2009, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by buk was right

But not baseball or softball.

Awesome.

I forget what their reasoning was for getting rid of those.

**Buk Was Right** · 08-13-2009, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Doug

I forget what their reasoning was for getting rid of those.

Not enough global popularity I think.

**Buk Was Right** · 08-13-2009, 10:32 AM

How can we deprive the rest of the world awesome stuff like this:

**SteveFlack** · 08-13-2009, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by buk was right

Not enough global popularity I think.

The IOC is very Euro-centric, and is biased against sports where European nations do not excel in. Baseball is dominated by the Latino, American, and Asian countries, and therefore, they have lobbied to have it removed.

On the other hand, rhythmic gymnastics, and sport with incredibly limited global appeal, remains in the Olympics, since it's medalists are usually always European.

**WNCE** · 08-13-2009, 11:01 AM

Chuck in Submission Grappling, there are plenty of grapplers in most countrys.

**mario** · 08-13-2009, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by SteveFlack

The IOC is very Euro-centric, and is biased against sports where European nations do not excel in. Baseball is dominated by the Latino, American, and Asian countries, and therefore, they have lobbied to have it removed.

On the other hand, rhythmic gymnastics, and sport with incredibly limited global appeal, remains in the Olympics, since it's medalists are usually always European.

No, i'm pretty sure it was as a form of punishment for the respective committees

**SteveFlack** · 08-13-2009, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by mario

No, i'm pretty sure it was as a form of punishment for the respective committees

What? I'm pretty confused as to what you are trying to say.

**NickT** · 08-13-2009, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by SteveFlack

The IOC is very Euro-centric, and is biased against sports where European nations do not excel in. Baseball is dominated by the Latino, American, and Asian countries, and therefore, they have lobbied to have it removed.

On the other hand, rhythmic gymnastics, and sport with incredibly limited global appeal, remains in the Olympics, since it's medalists are usually always European.

You're complaining about baseball's departure and accusing others of having limited global appeal, good one

And RG is usually won by Russians, not Europeans.

Plus, note that RG is a very different sport from the likes of Baseball and Rugby, and they would aim for a bit more variety.