Rugby and Golf win IOC approval for Olympics inclusion

Golf and rugby sevens will both be on the program for the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympic Games, after winning the approval of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in a vote on Friday.

The IOC members, meeting in Copenhagen, voted overwhelmingly 81 to eight in support of Rugby Sevens after the code was one of two recommended by the Executive Board for inclusion in Brazil.

Golf was accepted into the Games with a supporting vote of 63 to 27.

The Olympic inclusion of both sports has been welcomed by officials and is seen by sport and sponsorship industry leaders as providing a major boost to both sports.

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) welcomed the decision with Managing Director and Chief Executive John O’Neill stating “this is a wonderful moment for our game, and a momentous decision by the IOC.

“There is enormous status attached to being an Olympic sport (and) we are extremely proud and honoured to say we are, finally, returning to the Olympic family.”

Rugby Union has been played at the Modern Olympics on four previous occasions – in 1900, 1908, 1920 and 1924.

International Rugby Board Chairman Bernard Lapasset stated “we offer the Olympic Games young, passionate fans that will travel to the Games and fill the stadiums to cheer on Rugby as well as the other Olympic sports.

“The IRB is also committed to working with every National Olympic Committee to develop their men’s and women’s Sevens teams and to promote the growth of the sports around the world.”

O’Neill said the Sevens program, in Australia and around the world, would receive major injections of interest and profile following Rugby’s acceptance into the Olympic program.

The IRB currently conducts a Sevens World Series circuit with stops in Dubai, South Africa, New Zealand, USA, Hong Kong, Australia, England, and Scotland.

Tim Lacey, founder and Chief Executive of the Ultimate Rugby Sevens online community said the decision would “transform the face of Sevens forever and bring unprecedented exposure, profile and funds to the game.

“Rugby Sevens is currently seeing extraordinary growth across the world with hundreds of new tournaments set to launch in the next year to add to the thousands already hosted in over 100 counties,” he said. “The excitement, dynamism and global appeal of the sport means it has a well deserved place on the Olympic stage.”

Lacey added that the decision “is not only massive for Sevens, it is huge for rugby as a global sport.”

Giles Morgan, Head of Sponsorship at HSBC, which has sponsorship programs in both sports, said that the growth in the sports encouraged by Olympics inclusion would inevitably attract sponsors, and so create a “virtuous circle” of investment and further growth.

“Rugby will develop at all levels,” explained Morgan, adding “National Olympic Committees (NOCs) will fund sports they think they can medal in. “Rugby Sevens is easy to pick up and relies less on physical size and strength, and more on skill, than the 15-a-side version, so will attract NOCs in emerging markets.

“You will see more rugby played there, more competitions, more participation, and when that happens, sponsors will follow.

“Golf is already very well funded at the top level, so the real focus for it is on grassroots. I think you will see more kids getting involved and investment in smaller facilities, nine-hole training centres as opposed to 18-hole courses.”

However Morgan noted that there was work to be done by both sports in the run-up to the 2016 Olympics. Golf, for instance, had to spread awareness of its accessibility.

“It is accessible … but that message has to permeate to new countries and a wider demographic.

“Inevitably this will take time - but the Olympics will be a catalyst for this”

Morgan backed up Tim Lacey’s view that the inclusion of Rugby Sevens would also benefit the 15-a-side format, saying Sevens would provide a “launch-pad” for new players and territories to develop the skills needed for the larger format.

Golf’s inclusion in the Olympics from 2016 will offer significant benefits for the sport in this country, according to New Zealand Golf acting Chief Executive, Dean Murphy.

Murphy stated that "the Olympic pathway will become a tremendous lure for all of our young amateurs who move into the professional game.”

Under the suggested format for Olympic qualification, the top 15 players on the moneylist qualify regardless of country with the next 45 players from the world rankings with a maximum of two per country that do not have two or more in the top 15.