GOLF CAN BECOME PART OF THE 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES
Expanding as a tourism modality in Brazil, golf is about to be fostered as sport practice in the country. In August this year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended the inclusion of golf in the 2016 Olympic Games. The decision was made after a meeting held in Berlin, Germany. Additionally to golf, the entity executive officers have also recommended the re-inclusion of rugby.
If the decision is confirmed, the golf Olympic competitions can be held in Rio de Janeiro. The city is competing with Tokyo, Madrid and Chicago for hosting the 2016 Games. The decision will be disseminated on October 2, in Copenhagen, Denmark, during the IOC 121st Session. Among other authorities, the President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will attend the event.
The two new sport modalities were selected among other competitors, like baseball, softball, squash, karate and skating. The final decision on the inclusion of those modalities in the Olympic schedule will be disseminated some days after the announcement of the hosting city: it is scheduled to October 9.
But the voting procedure has not yet been defined. The inclusion of both sports in the Olympic Games can be voted either in block or in separate, approving or rejecting both or only of the modalities. The proposal of re-inserting golf in the Olympic Games was submitted in June, jointly with other seven sport modalities.
1904 was the last year that golf was part of the Olympic Games, in Saint Louis, USA. If the IOC accepts the modality in October, the competition forecasts a 72-hole journey, with men’s and women’s participation, and 60 competitors in each course. The Top 15 of the world would be automatically classified.
(Information from the Brazilian Golf Confederation)