Tiger Woods moved one step closer to accomplishing a feat that Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan could only dream possible: winning an Olympic gold medal.
On Thursday, the International Olympic Committee’s executive board recommended that golf and rugby sevens go before full membership for a vote for inclusion in the 2016 Summer Games. That vote will take place Oct. 9 during the IOC’s annual meetings in Copenhagen. The full 106-member committee will decide whether to add both sports, only one, or neither. A majority vote is all that’s needed for inclusion.
A week earlier, the committee will select the city where the 2016 Games will take place. The four finalists are Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.
Golf and rugby sevens, which is a miniature version of the traditional 15-player game, were recommended by the 15-member executive board from a group of seven sports hoping for inclusion in the 2016 Games. Both sports have been part of previous Olympics. Golf was contested in 1900 and 1904; rugby in 1900, 1908, 1920 and 1924. Technically speaking, the United States men are the two-time defending Olympic champions, winning the gold medal in both ’20 and ’24.
The five sports missing the cut were roller sports, squash, karate, baseball and softball. The latter two sports were dropped from the Olympic program after the 2008 Games in Beijing, baseball in part because of the taint from performance-enhancing drugs and softball from its association with baseball, as well a perception that the U.S. team was far too dominant in a sport in which few countries around the globe participated.
To combat that, softball launched a massive lobbying effort that included hosting clinics in underrepresented countries.
“Obviously this is a disappointing day for us,” said U.S. star Jennie Finch, long one of the most recognizable faces in the game. “I think our sport is too good not to prevail . . . this fight isn’t over.”
Woods, arguably the world’s most famous athlete, lent his support to golf’s bid and said he hopes to participate in 2016, which will feature men’s and women’s competitions.
Before Thursday, the only Summer Olympic sport that didn’t have a female counterpart was boxing. That changed when the executive committee voted to allow women to compete, beginning in London in 2012. There will be three weight classes for women — flyweight (106-112 pounds), lightweight (123-132) and middle weight (152-165). Twelve boxers will compete in each of the divisions.
To help expedite the boxing program at the Games, the men’s competition will be reduced from 11 weight classes to 10. The specific trim has not yet been determined.
Anthony Cotton: 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com
