IRB begins planning for Olympic debut

The planning for Rugby Sevens' debut at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janerio began this week, as International Rugby Board (IRB) President Bernard Lapasset travelled to Lausanne to meet with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF).

The meetings will be the first between all organisations since the IOC voted Rugby back into the Olympics last October, and will be the formal beginning for collaboration between the different parties to bring the game back into the biggest show on earth. Speaking to irb.com, Lapasset explained "I am delighted to be in Lausanne today to begin working in close collaboration with the IOC on our journey towards the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Our campaign for inclusion was an opportunity for us to explain why Rugby is good for the Games and the Games good for Rugby.

"We (now) start giving life to this vision and look forward to providing guidance in the coming years to our National Unions (Federations) on leveraging this opportunity while also welcoming new nations into the Rugby Family.

"Rugby is about successful partnerships and teamwork and we will bring the same commitment to our work with the Olympic Family."

IOC Sports Director Christophe Dubi was looking forward to welcoming a sport that was well suited to the Olympic Games, stating "success in rugby requires all the players on a team to work in close collaboration towards a common goal and it is the same for sports that are a part of the Olympic Program.

"We are delighted to have President Lapasset, Secretary General Mike Miller and the IRB team with us in Lausanne and we are sure that the spirit of collaboration evident in the meetings will guide us to a very successful Games for the Olympic Movement and Rugby Sevens in Rio in 2016."

While Rugby Sevens is enjoying unprecedented growth, with viewing numbers at record levels, the IRB is reworking their Sevens Strategic Plan. This process will ensure that growth continues in all areas of the sport leading up to 2016.

Lapasset stated "the IRB Sevens Strategic Plan underpinned the unprecedented growth of men's and women's Rugby Sevens, culminating in the global Rugby family realising its Olympic dream.

"With that major strategic goal achieved, the current five year contractual cycle of the IRB Sevens World Series entering its penultimate year and collaboration with the IOC under way, it is now the appropriate time to move to the next phase of strategic planning considering all aspects of Rugby Sevens' development around the world."

"This process has the purpose of delivering the framework for Rugby Sevens at all levels to continue to flourish and reach out to new markets, new communities and new male and female players of all ages, while ensuring that all our Unions have access to a development and tournament pathway that optimises the effects of Olympic Games inclusion."
James Mortimer