Golf and rugby union Sevens will be included as sports at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Friday.
IOC members rubber-stamped the two sports at a congress after the executive board had voted to include them at a meeting in August.
Rugby Sevens received 81 votes for and eight against with one abstention, while golf had 63 for and 27 against with two members abstaining.
The two sports will be included in the programme for the 2016 Rio Games, bringing the number of sports there to the IOC’s stated maximum of 28.
Rugby Sevens will see 12 teams each in men’s and women’s competition, with the sport’s governing body, the IRB, having pledged to end its showpiece World Cup Sevens tournament.
The International Golf Federation has promised that the world’s best will take part in Olympic golf, which will see 60 players in both the men and women’s competitions facing off over 72 holes.
Softball, squash, baseball, karate and roller sports were also in contention for Olympic spots until their elimination by the executive board vote two months ago.
Both rugby and golf have been played previously at Olympics.
Golf was played at the Paris Games in 1900 and four years later in St Louis, while rugby was played between 1900 and 1924, in the full 15-a-side format. — AFP
