Golf and Rugby are to be considered for inclusion at the 2016 Olympic Games. The announcement was made by the International Olympic Committee today at the Word Athletics Championships in Berlin. Five other applicants – baseball, softball, squash, karate and roller sports – were rejected; only two openings are available on the programme.
There is no guarantee yet that the two sports will be included; a vote will take place at an IOC meeting on October 8th in Copenhagen. The 2016 Games will take place in either Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro or Tokyo.
“All seven sports made a strong case for inclusion, and the EB carefully evaluated them in a transparent and fair process. In the end, the decision came down to which two would add the most value,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge, who elected not to take part in the vote. “Golf and rugby will be a great addition to the Games.
“Golf and rugby scored high on all the criteria; they have global appeal, a geographically diverse line-up of top iconic athletes and an ethic that stresses fair play.”
It was also announced that Women will compete in Boxing starting with the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
On the news, International Softball Federation Don Porter said “The ISF and wider softball family is certainly disappointed by today’s decision by the IOC Executive Board not to recommend softball for reinstatement onto the Olympic Games Programme in 2016.
“Softball players continue to dream of Olympic gold, the ultimate prize in our sport, and we will carry on our campaign for Olympic reinstatement to prove to the IOC that our sport fits with Olympic values and ambitions and deserves a place on merit on the Games Programme.”
The World Squash Federation President, N Ramachandran commented “I speak for the whole sport when I say that we are hugely disappointed that the IOC Executive Board have not selected squash to face the wider IOC vote in Copenhagen in October. I believe that squash has come a long way in the last four years, not just in order try and gain Olympic inclusion but for the benefit of the sport as a whole.
“We have invested in developments and listened to players at all levels in order to help progress the sport. I believe that through this we have been able to take squash to a new level. Although we will not see our dream of being part of the Olympic Games from 2016, we will continue to improve the sport wherever possible, and will not give up on the belief that squash is deserving of and ready for Olympic status.”
The International Baseball Federation released the following comments, “Today is certainly a disappointing day for the billions of fans and participants around the globe who love the game of baseball, especially for the many young people from emerging countries who are now just learning the game and will not get the opportunity to realize the Olympic dream that so many before them have had. We effectively addressed all the International Olympic Committee’s questions with regard to re-instatement and are confident that we had made the best presentation possible.”
GamesBids.com will continue to update this story as it develops.
