Golf and Rugby to be included in 2016 Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today voted to include in the Summer Olympic Games beginning in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At a meeting two months ago the IOC’s Executive Board had voted to recommend both sports to its full membership. Today’s vote by the full membership was therefore mere confirmation of the recommendation it received from the Executive.

Golf was approved by 63 votes to 27, with two abstentions, while Rugby Sevens had 81 votes in favour and eight against, with one abstention.

The IOC, custodian of the Summer and Winter Olympics, has indicated that it remains committed to engaging sports on the respective Games’ programmes that are attractive and appealing to the peoples of the world. However, critics seem to think that it is all about the commercial attractiveness of the two new sporting disciplines.