Sevens set to join Olympics

Sevens set to join Olympics

13 Aug 2009

The International Olympic Committee has voted to include rugby sevens and golf at the 2016 Olympics.

The IOC’s executive board recommended the two sports be added in a recent meeting in Berlin. A further meeting will be held in Copenhagen this October, where the decision should become official.

‘This is a very significant day for rugby and as a former sevens player and now coach, I want to thank the IRB for their dedication and commitment to spreading this exciting sport to all corners of the globe,’ said Bok Sevens coach Paul Treu.

‘The important recommendation is further proof that sevens has now truly established itself as a world sport. The prospect of Olympic participation and the possibility of a medal at the world’s biggest sports gathering will have a profound influence on rugby players’ careers.

‘I am absolutely delighted and I am sure that the recommendation will now change the perception of sevens rugby as a minor sport, even amongst the traditional rugby playing countries.

If the executive board’s decision is accepted, the IRB will scrap the Sevens World Cup to ensure the Olympics is the sport’s top event.

Golf and rugby sevens were preferred over various other sports for the 2016 Games. Softball, squash, baseball, karate and roller sports were all hoping to make the Olympic cut.


31 Comments

  • 1.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    13 Aug 2009, 16:50 pm

    that’s the best news i heard all day. it can only improve our medal tally.

  • 2.grant10: Reply to this comment
    13 Aug 2009, 16:53 pm

    magic news!!!

  • 3.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    13 Aug 2009, 17:10 pm

    Immense news, the Americans and Argies (amongst others) will get loads of funding and GB will get another gold medal :)

  • 4.Shakes: Reply to this comment
    13 Aug 2009, 17:15 pm

    Great medal opportunity, we need to build on Paul Treu’s foundation. Perhaps Paul should be the DOR for 7s.

  • 5.SodaJoe: Reply to this comment
    13 Aug 2009, 17:58 pm

    Well wadda ja know.

    The IRB finally got off it’s ample a*se and did something to spread the global game.

  • 6.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    13 Aug 2009, 18:20 pm

    #5 SodaJoe: huge ramifications for the game in the US, they’ll get tens of millions of rugby funding almost overnight

  • 7.Ezee-23: Reply to this comment
    13 Aug 2009, 18:44 pm

    Is Beach Volleyball, especially Womens Beach Volleyball, an Olymipic sport?

    If it is then I now have 2 reasons to watch the Olympics.

  • 8.Lions_Soutie: Reply to this comment
    13 Aug 2009, 18:44 pm

    Golf as an Olympic sport is a bit ridiculous. Do you think they’ll allow those damn Americans to shout ‘get in the hole’.

    Brilliant news for rugby though! There is a speedster wing who plays for HS Middelburg. Does the 100m in 10.4s , will be ideal for our team

  • 9.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    13 Aug 2009, 18:44 pm

    Imagine how arrogant US rugby fans would be if they became the world’s No.1 test team

    #7 Ezee-23: yes it is, and let me tell you, it’s great viewing :)

  • 10.SodaJoe: Reply to this comment
    13 Aug 2009, 18:49 pm

    #6 Big Hit: Yeah right.

    #9 Big Hit: We are the most arrogant rugby fans already. But we have the right to be we are better than everyone else.

  • 11.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    13 Aug 2009, 18:55 pm

    #10 SodaJoe: Reigning Olympic champions :)

  • 12.SodaJoe: Reply to this comment
    13 Aug 2009, 19:01 pm

    #11 Big Hit: And we have yet to peak.

    Fiji is quivering in their boots.

  • 13.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    13 Aug 2009, 19:04 pm

    #12 SodaJoe: how long have you lived in the US, do you feel like a bona fide yank now?

  • 14.SodaJoe: Reply to this comment
    13 Aug 2009, 19:08 pm

    #13 Big Hit: 8 years. I am a bona fide Yanqui with passport.

    But not really. I grew up South African, lived in Europe for 7 years before US. So you never lose your roots.

    I am pretty proud to be American now. My kids are pretty much outright Americans.

    Funnily I miss the UK a lot, not sure why, but I do.

    SA drama can be tiresome, but we still have a fair amount of family back in SA, and then in Aus. We are the lost tribe – everyone else went left.

  • 15.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    13 Aug 2009, 19:15 pm

    #14 SodaJoe: just 8 years, it must be somewhat weird for you having kids with US accents. I’m sure you do miss the UK too but surely not the weather :)

  • 16.SodaJoe: Reply to this comment
    13 Aug 2009, 19:32 pm

    #15 Big Hit: Yeah they have quite strong accents, especially my daughter who is almost 16.

    I miss a sense of humor who’s foundation is irony.

  • 17.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    13 Aug 2009, 19:39 pm

    #16 SodaJoe: lol I understand.

  • 18.Ezee-23: Reply to this comment
    13 Aug 2009, 23:36 pm

    #9 Big Hit: Oh joy!! Rugby and Womens Beach Volleyball are the only reasons I’m still living.

  • 19.SAinNZ: Reply to this comment
    14 Aug 2009, 01:00 am

    A rugby tournament held every four years…just one mor ethng for the Kiwis to choke at? ;)

  • 20.SAinNZ: Reply to this comment
    14 Aug 2009, 01:22 am

    *more thing

  • 21.Predawn: Reply to this comment
    14 Aug 2009, 01:52 am

    #18 Ezee-23:

    ‘Specially Brazilian women..that’s a brazilian reasons.

  • 22.Ezee-23: Reply to this comment
    14 Aug 2009, 02:22 am

    #20 SAinNZ: No need for a correction dude, we read you loud and clear!!!

    #21 Predawn: And they are tapping each others asses after every point. It’s surprising that no ones ever taken offense. With all the religious, womens and children’s groups out there.

  • 23.SAinNZ: Reply to this comment
    14 Aug 2009, 02:48 am

    #22 Ezee-23:

    Did you see the US team at the last Olympics – Bush went and met them, and one of them tried to get Bush to tap her on the ***. For a split second, it looked like he thought about it.

  • 24.Predawn: Reply to this comment
    14 Aug 2009, 04:50 am

    #22 Ezee-23:

    I get a slight pulpitation every time they do it. Funny enough it doesn’t quite have the same efect when men do it during rugby games…it’s just not right.

  • 25.Ezee-23: Reply to this comment
    14 Aug 2009, 05:55 am

    #23 SAinNZ: That’s a classic. He should have though because apparently it’s a Volleyball tradition to do so after you win a point. I bet Obama would tap that.

    #24 Predawn: Agreed. Lets leave that stuff to the NFL.

  • 26.Breakdown Boy: Reply to this comment
    14 Aug 2009, 08:21 am

    Amagine golf was an olimpic sport? Can you see Colin Montgomery called an olipian? Golf is a hobey, a very expensive hoby, 7′s is a global game, they ,made the right choice.

  • 27.Ezee-23: Reply to this comment
    14 Aug 2009, 08:47 am

    #26 Breakdown Boy: I’ll actually watch a round of golf now that it’s an Olympic sport.

  • 28.cane: Reply to this comment
    14 Aug 2009, 12:31 pm

    #25 Ezee-23:

    Clinton would have given it more than a tap.

  • 29.WakaNathan: Reply to this comment
    15 Aug 2009, 00:37 am

    #9 Big Hit:

    Almost half as much as the current No1s.

  • 30.whatever: Reply to this comment
    15 Aug 2009, 00:45 am

    #29 WakaNathan:

    Pity you won’t know what it’s like? You and your lot are just arrogant even without the cup……….doos!

  • 31.WakaNathan: Reply to this comment
    15 Aug 2009, 01:04 am

    #30 whatever:

    JUST

    ICE

    or

    Lemon ?

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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