Dr. Jack can sleep easy now.....

dave nz · #1 10-09-2009, 10:19 AM

Golf's Olympic bid successful

After an absence of more than a century, golf will return as an Olympic sport in 2016 and 2020, along with rugby sevens, following their approval by the International Olympic Committee membership during the IOC’s 121st Session.

Golf was approved by 63 votes to 27, with two abstentions. Rugby was voted in with 81 votes for to eight against, with one abstention.

Both sports will be part of the Olympic Programme in Rio de Janeiro, which last week was selected as the host city for 2016 Games by the IOC. Golf was last an Olympic sport at the 1904 Games in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, when the United States and Canada were the only two competing countries.

Ty Votaw, Executive Director of the International Golf Federation Olympic Golf Committee, which has coordinated golf’s Olympic bid, said: “We are elated that the IOC membership has accepted golf as an Olympic sport and look forward to seeing the world’s best golfers compete for gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. We thank the IOC for its support, and also congratulate rugby sevens for its inclusion in the 2016 Games.”

Votaw and Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A and joint secretary of the International Golf Federation, were accompanied by professionals Padraig Harrington of Ireland, Michelle Wie of the United States and Suzann Pettersen of Norway, as well as 16-year-old Amateur Champion Matteo Manassero of Italy, for a final presentation to the IOC prior to the vote in Copenhagen.

Dawson said: “We are extremely grateful that Padraig, Michelle, Suzann and Matteo were able to join us to help communicate the genuine interest world-class players of all ages share in golf becoming an Olympic sport.”

Golf and rugby sevens were recommended for the Olympic Programme by the IOC Executive Board in August following an extensive review process involving seven sports that were vying to be added to the 2016 Olympic Games. Although they emerged as the finalists, both sports still required final approval by a majority of votes cast by the members of the IOC.

“In addition to those golfers who will have an opportunity to compete as Olympic athletes, we are excited for the national golf federations that will reap the benefits from today’s decision in terms of growth and support within their countries,” Dawson said. “This is a very significant day for golf.”

Leading up to the final vote, golf and rugby sevens emerged from a year-long evaluation that included formal presentations by the seven sports, the submission of a Detailed Questionnaire and responses to questions raised by both the IOC Programme Commission and the IOC Executive Board. The IOC Executive Board announced its recommendation of two sports following a meeting in Berlin, Germany on August 13.

Votaw said: “We strongly believed that golf deserved to be added to the Olympic Programme and felt that we presented a compelling case to the IOC. We have received unprecedented support from international golf organisations throughout this process, as well as from the world’s top-ranked men and women players, which was critical to our success. We also stressed the universal nature of golf, with 60 million people playing the sport in more than 120 countries.”

Based on player feedback, the IGF has proposed a format of 72-hole individual stroke play for both men and women. In case of a tie for either first, second or third place, a three-hole playoff is recommended to determine the medal winner(s).

The IGF also has recommended an Olympic field of 60 players for each of the men's and women's competition, using the Official World Golf Ranking as a method of determining eligibility. The top-15 world-ranked players would be eligible for the Olympics, regardless of the number of players from a given country. Beyond the top 15, players would be eligible based on the world rankings, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top 15.

Current world rankings from both the men’s and women’s games show that at least 30 countries would be represented in both the men’s and women’s competitions, from all continents, under this proposal.

Gobbler's Knob · #2 10-09-2009, 02:46 PM

Tiger will be 43, still young enough to make a run at it.

revnecro1273 · #3 10-10-2009, 01:50 AM

rubgy? wtf...the sport is dominated by 3 countries and most of the time just 1...i thought that was the reason why they got rid of softball due to usa total domination year in and year out...now we have nz, south africa and australia going to be guaranteed a medal each just because a sport in put into action there

dave nz · #4 10-10-2009, 01:56 AM

Its not proper rugby mate. Its seven aside rugby about 8 teams can win it, though if South Africa and NZ get all players avaliable, they the two most likely. Aussie stink at sevens, Fiji and Samoa better.
7 or 10 minute halves and seven players each side, hugely different to proper 80 minute 15 players per side rugby.

revnecro1273 · #5 10-10-2009, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave nz

Its not proper rugby mate. Its seven aside rugby about 8 teams can win it, though if South Africa and NZ get all players avaliable, they the two most likely. Aussie stink at sevens, Fiji and Samoa better.
7 or 10 minute halves and seven players each side, hugely different to proper 80 minute 15 players per side rugby.

what made them do 7s and not league or union style?

dave nz · #6 10-10-2009, 02:21 AM

Just the time frame they have to work with. In sevens rugby players can play a few games in one day. In fifteen aside usually one a week, two max.

revnecro1273 · #7 10-10-2009, 02:22 AM

yeah that is a short game for sure..able to get in a lot more games that way

dave nz · #8 10-10-2009, 02:29 AM

Alot of spectators love it as its more action. Wellington where I live hosts a world sevens every year, 30k tickets sell out in less than 24 hours. The stadium turns into party central for 3 days, everyone dresses up, alot of hot chicks in nurses uniforms. Sevens is more of a exhibition event for the fans, but of course the players still take it very seriously.

dave nz · #9 10-10-2009, 02:41 AM

Big night for nz soccer tonight we play Bahrain in a home and away, winner makes the world cup, away leg for nz is tonight.

revnecro1273 · #10 10-10-2009, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave nz

Big night for nz soccer tonight we play Bahrain in a home and away, winner makes the world cup, away leg for nz is tonight.

good luck man..nz has greatly improved in recent years

revnecro1273 · #11 10-10-2009, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave nz

Alot of spectators love it as its more action. Wellington where I live hosts a world sevens every year, 30k tickets sell out in less than 24 hours. The stadium turns into party central for 3 days, everyone dresses up, alot of hot chicks in nurses uniforms. Sevens is more of a exhibition event for the fans, but of course the players still take it very seriously.

sounds cool man...i have never heard of rugby 7s before...just learned of cricket 20/20 this year and like that a lot more than i do regular cricket...so this 7s rugby could be to my liking

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