

Oct 16 2008 Votaw Updates IGF Delegates on Olympic Golf Movement
Looks Like The Olympics is getting closer to making decisions on The Future of Golf as an Olympic Sport for the 2016 Games.
Recently an INTERNATIONAL GOLF FEDERATION Meeting put the game at the front of the list for new sports entering the International Olympic Scene. Its going to be an interesting conversation and debate since the Olympics have traditionally maximized the talents of Amatuers.
But now, as sponsorship and advertising increases, the professional athlete becomes so much more important.
Who is going to watch a bunch of no name golfers?
The INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE will decide if golf will be included in the 2016 Olympics and what sort of format will be played.
What is known, golf could seriously use this World Wide Coverage.
For more than 80 years, golf has been talked about as an Olympic Sport and now, it is closer than ever to becoming one.
Below is the article from THE EUROPEAN PGA TOUR WEBSITE talking about the details.
I dont know what the final outcome will be, but I am hoping The International Federation of Golf will work closely with THE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE and come up with the best opportunity for all organizations involved.
IGF MEETING
The International Golf Federation Olympic Committee continues its efforts to add golf to the 2016 Olympic Games and is seeking constituent support along the way.
Last week during the World Amateur Team Championships in Adelaide, Australia, PGA TOUR Executive Ty Votaw, as Executive Director of the IGF Olympic Committee, provided a progress report to IGF delegates from more than 70 countries as well as the 18-member International Golf Federation Administrative Committee. Votaw also sought assistance from the delegates, suggesting they interact with members of the International Olympic Committee from their respective countries, voice their support of the Olympic golf movement and reinforce the virtues of the game as a potential Olympic sport.
During the course of Votaw’s visit, member organizations pledged their support through future efforts as well as financial backing over the next 12 months to help defray costs of the bid. The IOC will determine in October 2009 whether to add no more than two of seven sports under consideration for the 2016 Games: golf, baseball, karate, roller sports, rugby sevens, softball and squash.
“The IGF effort to promote Olympic golf will benefit significantly by maximizing the exposure it receives,” said Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A and co-secretary of the IGF. “The World Amateur Team Championships presented an ideal forum to discuss the efforts and associated issues, and to seek backing from an international base of constituents. Ty provided vital information and was able to garner much valuable support.”
“Considering we have just 12 months to solidify our case for golf’s immediate future as an Olympic sport, we need to make the most of every opportunity that presents itself,” said David Fay, Executive Director of the United States Golf Association and co-secretary of the IGF. “This was definitely time well spent with a valuable audience that can help to make a difference in our Olympic bid.”
Golf is bidding for inclusion as an Olympic sport for the first time since 1904, when it was contested in St. Louis, USA. At that time, men’s individual and team titles were contested among 77 golfers representing just two nations – 74 from the United States and three from Canada. In 2008, approximately 20 countries are represented in the top 100 world rankings for both men and women.
The International Golf Federation, recognized as the representative body for golf by the International Olympic Committee, announced in July the creation of the Olympic Golf Committee to drive its effort for the sport’s inclusion in the 2016 Games. Organizations represented on the committee are The R&A, PGA European Tour, USGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, LPGA and Augusta National Golf Club.
The IGF was founded in 1958 as the World Amateur Golf Council to encourage the international development of the game. It took its current name in 2003 and today includes the national governing bodies of golf from more than 110 countries.
The host city for the 2016 Games also will be determined at the 121st IOC session, scheduled for October 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The four finalists are Chicago, USA; Madrid, Spain; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Tokyo, Japan.
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