Sport just one step away from being included in 2016 Summer Olympics
Oakville, Ont (RCGA) – The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) is pleased to report that International Olympic Committee (IOC) leaders have selected golf, along with rugby, for proposed inclusion in the 2016 Games.
The IOC Executive Board announced its decision to narrow the field of potential sports to two from a list of seven, which also included squash, karate and roller sports Thursday following a meeting in Berlin, Germany.
The board will propose golf and rugby sevens - a faster-paced version of the standard 15-a-side game - for approval by the entire 106-member IOC assembly in Copenhagen on Oct. 9.
"We are thrilled with this announcement," said Scott Simmons, the RCGA’s Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer. "It brings golf – Canada’s highest per capita participation sport with more than 1-in-5 people actively playing the game - a significant step closer to once again being included in the Olympics."
Golf was last played at the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis, where Canadian Geroge Lyon won the sport’s Gold Medal.
The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) is the governing body of golf in Canada, representing 377,000 members at 1,600 clubs across the country. The association is also recognized by Sport Canada as the National Sports Organization (NSO) for golf in this country.
"Interest in golf as a sport and an industry continues to grow across Canada," added Simmons. "Including golf in the 2016 Olympics would undoubtedly assist in helping to grow and promote the game, not just in Canada, but worldwide."
The International Golf Federation (IGF), the representative body for golf by the IOC, has proposed a format of 72-hole individual stroke play for both men and women. That format was recommended because top players felt that was the fairest and best way to identify a champion, mirroring the format used in golf's major championships. In case of a tie for either first, second or third place, a three-hole playoff is recommended to determine the medal winner(s).
The IGF recommended an Olympic field of 60 players for each of the men's and women's competition, utilizing the Official World Golf Ranking as a method of determining eligibility.
A decision on the site for the 2016 Summer Games is expected on Oct. 2. The candidate cities are Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.
ABOUT THE ROYAL CANADIAN GOLF ASSOCIATION
The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) is the governing body of golf in Canada, representing 377,000 members at 1,600 clubs across the country. Recognized by Sport Canada as the National Sports Organization (NSO) for golf in this country, the RCGA’s mission is to grow participation in and passion for the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. The RCGA conducts programs and services to help shape the future of golf in Canada. High performance athlete development, CN Future Links, Canada’s national junior golf program, turfgrass and environmental research, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum, Rules of Golf and amateur status, handicapping and course rating are only some of the initiatives the association leads for golf in Canada. In addition, the RCGA conducts Canada’s most prestigious golf championships. The RBC Canadian Open and CN Canadian Women’s Open attract the best professional golfers in the world, while regional junior and national amateur championships showcase the best in Canadian golf.
For further information on what the RCGA is doing to support golf in your community please visit www.rcga.org.
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