Golf, rugby make Olympic roster for 2016, 2020

URY914 · URY914's Garage

COPENHAGEN (AP) -- All those beautiful beaches and Tiger Woods, too!

After more than a century on the sidelines, golf will return to the Olympics at the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. Rugby, last played in 1924, is coming back as well.

Both were reinstated for the 2016 and 2020 games after a vote Friday by the International Olympic Committee.

Each sport received majority support in separate votes after leading athletes and officials from both camps gave presentations, including a taped video message from Woods and other top pros. Woods has indicated he would play in the Olympics if golf were accepted for 2016.

"There are millions of young golfers worldwide who would be proud to represent their country," Woods said from the Presidents Cup in San Francisco. "It would be an honor for anyone who plays this game to become an Olympian."

Golf was approved 63-27 with two abstentions. Rugby was voted in 81-8 with one abstention.

Golf will stage a 72-hole stroke-play tournament for men and women, with 60 players in each field. Rugby will organize a four-day seven-a-side tournament - instead of the more traditional 15-a-side game - for 12 men's and women's teams. Golf will stage a 72-hole stroke-play tournament for men and women, with 60 players in each field.

The venue and schedule for both sports in Rio de Janeiro has yet to be decided. The golf tournament will not necessarily be played Thursday through Sunday, bid leader Ty Votaw said.

"It might be Wednesday to Saturday," Votaw said. "Or it might be that the women's competition is first, and the men's is second. ... All of those things need to be worked out over the next seven years."

Rugby officials touted their sport as a modern game that can attract young fans and new sponsors.

"The sevens format is made for television, made for sponsors, and most importantly loved for fans and players alike," said bid leader Mike Miller, the secretary-general of the International Rugby Board. "Rugby and Rio were made for each other. A great atmosphere, great sport and a good time. And I think that's what the Olympic Games are going to be all about."

Golf gave a commitment to the IOC that it would not stage any major championships on the Olympic dates. The Rugby Sevens World Cup will be canceled if the sport is added to the Olympics.

They are the first new sports added since triathlon and taekwondo joined the program for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

The vote was a reversal of the IOC's decision four years ago to reject golf and rugby for the 2012 Olympics, and brings the number of summer Olympic sports back to 28. There have been two openings on the program since baseball and softball were dropped in 2005 for the 2012 London Games.

Rugby and golf both made their Olympic debuts at the second modern games in Paris in 1900. Golf was played again only at the 1904 St. Louis Games, and 15-a-side rugby was featured three more times, its last appearance in the 1924 Paris Olympics.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

You heard it here first. One day Guitar Hero and other video games will become Olympic sports.

URY914 · URY914's Garage

Bean bag toss is coming in 2024

widgeon13 · 10-09-2009, 11:03 AM

I think "circle jerk" is already in.

Mothy · Mothy's Garage

The current Rugby Olympic Champions (the last ones to win a Gold Medal) are ........(wait for it)

USA

berettafan · 10-09-2009, 04:34 PM

i just can't get past the word 'scrum'.

Langers · 10-09-2009, 04:49 PM

Do when will a spec motor racing series be included?

URY914 · URY914's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Langers

Do when will a spec motor racing series be included?

How about NASCAR?

TheMentat · TheMentat's Garage

Golf shouldn't be eligible on the grounds that you can smoke while playing the game.

Team sports in general shouldn't be in the Olympics (except hockey of course

)

Mothy · Mothy's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by berettafan

i just can't get past the word 'scrum'.

Well, they had to use "scrum", "ruck" and "maul" because assault and battery were already taken.

Rugby - a game for thugs, played by gentlemen.

Bill Douglas · 10-10-2009, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mothy

The current Rugby Olympic Champions (the last ones to win a Gold Medal) are ........(wait for it)

USA

THEY play rugby.

island911 · 10-10-2009, 08:50 AM

This just in; The Norwegians concede the gold medal to Tiger Woods.

pksystems · pksystems's Garage

The defending Golf gold medalist is from Canada I heard on the radio..... from like 1915

This shouldn't bump up the cost of summer games at all, so long as they already have an olympic grade golf course. No big deal if we have to cut down a forest to make room for some rich guys to play for medals