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Sevens az Olimpán !

Rugby wins Olympic vote
Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:39


Sevens, along with golf, are set to appear at the 2016 Olympic Games, after an International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board vote on Thursday.

The decision, taken by secret ballot, is not binding as it has to be rubber-stamped by the entire IOC membership in a vote in Copenhagen in October - if successful it would take the amount of sports to 28.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) said in a statement on Thursday it is "delighted" that the IOC Executive Board has recommended Sevens as one of two sports for inclusion in the Olympic Games.

Bernard Lapasset, President of the IRB, said: "We would like to thank the IOC Executive Board for selecting Sevens from what are seven strong and diverse sports.

"We recognise the significance of this milestone in our campaign but are also mindful that the ultimate decision rests with the IOC members when they meet in Copenhagen on October 9.

"The Olympic Games would be the pinnacle of the sport for all our athletes and the rugby family, providing the opportunity for the best men's and women's players in the world to showcase their talent on the world's greatest sporting stage.

"The international rugby community is united behind Sevens' campaign and we now look ahead to October."

Rugby - which in its traditional 15-a-side format - was originally introduced to the Olympic Games by Pierre de Coubertin in 1900 and continued to be played at the 1908, 1920 and 1924 Games.

The sport shares the values of the Olympic Movement and offers new potential for growth to help the Movement to thrive and reach more young fans worldwide.

Seven sports had been vying for inclusion to the 2016 Games, the venue for which will be voted on when the IOC meets in Denmark, with baseball, softball, rollersports, karate and squash all missing out.

For the five sports who lost out there is no hope of continuing their fight as IOC president Jacques Rogge has said they cannot come to the vote as an alternative option should one of the recommended sports be voted down.

After failing in their previous bid to get into the 2012 Games the sport's powerbrokers mounted an aggressive and effective campaign, with Lapasset making it the priority of his first term of office.

His intention was to make it a truly global sport, 'reaching out' as he termed it, and as IRB chief executive Mike Miller pointed out the Sevens format is ideal for television as it is 'fast and furious' and also has the habit of producing upsets.