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Rugby sevens' chances of admission into the Olympics could be improved by a proposal from the sport's ruling body to scrap its increasingly popular World Cup.
The Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai in March featured 98 games and had a television reach of 760 million viewers but the International Rugby Board, which governs both 15-a-side rugby and the truncated version of the sport, is prepared to sacrifice the event in favor of the Olympics.
"If we were to be re-included in the Olympic Games, our intention would be to stop the Rugby World Cup Sevens so there would be one pinnacle in the four-year cycle of rugby sevens," IRB chief executive Mike Miller said. "That pinnacle would be the Olympic Games."
Rugby, which was dropped from the Olympics after the 1924 Games, is vying with golf, baseball, softball, squash, karate and roller sports for one of two spots at the 2016 Summer Games.
Cheryl Soon led Australia to victory in the women's competition at the Rugby World Cup Sevens but said she still sees the Olympics as a bigger incentive for those thinking of taking up the sport.
There are 3 million players worldwide registered with the IRB.
"To win a medal at the Olympics is the absolute pinnacle," Soon said. "It's what we dream of. If it wasn't included as an Olympic sport, I'd be disappointed by that."
The IRB is still compiling its report on this year's Rugby World Cup Sevens, but the 2005 tournament in Hong Kong generated around US$18 million.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/i...p-for-Olympics
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Additionally:
....The IRB expects the extra exposure and subsequent revenue that would generated by Olympic status to at least compensate for that.
The IRB sees inclusion as a big part of its efforts to spread the sport beyond its traditional strongholds of northern Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
"The Olympics is the biggest sporting stage that there is and also gives us the opportunity to be seen by people who wouldn't necessarily look at rugby," Miller said.
A group including Miller, IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset, Kenya sevens captain Humphrey Kayange and Soon will make a presentation to the IOC executive board at its meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, on June 15-16.
The International Olympic Committee will then consider the seven sports' bids, with the board expected to recommend two at a meeting in Berlin in August.
The final decision will be made at the IOC session in Copenhagen in October.
IOC members Gunilla Lindberg and Bob Elphinston attended the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai, where Wales surprisingly won the men's competition and Australia beat traditional rival New Zealand in the women's edition.
The IRB pointed out that all four semi-finalists had upset more favoured sides in the previous round and suggested that smaller countries' success could count in its favour at the vote.
"We are confident about our chances of June, but not complacent," Lapasset said. "We believe the rugby sevens world cup in Dubai left a very positive impression."
http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...103581299.html
i reckon Squash & Rugby will get the nod..
golf is too individual and there is only one top level international tournament between USA & Europe, although most players play under their flag its the players that are recognised not the country..
Baseball is not a world game - and youd probably only ever have the US, Japan, Australia & Canada as contenders... a bit pointless, the same goes with Softball. (didnt softball just lose their spot anyway? )
karate is the dark horse as its very popular around the world the only thing going against it is that there are already 4 other combat sports in the games in Boxing, Taekwondo, Wrestling & Judo.
Personally, I think Olympic sports need to have an endurance component. Other than a bit of a stroll, golf doesn't really bring it
The faster the arrow the less it deflects in the air?
You need to be stronger to pull the bow back to full extension?
You could change the archery into a high-jump type event where you shoot it over an obstacle and hope to hit a target on the other side (as opposed to a spectator!)
If the rugby 7 world cup is dropped in favour of the Olympics - then niether Wales or Scotland will be competing as Great Brittan competes in the Olympics
Jasper![]()
Disregard the other post regarding Olymipc Soccer qualification, I was thinking of the wrong tournamentas they haven't entered a team in about 35 years.
Apparently for the 2012 games there will probably be a tournament between the 4 nations that comprise the United Kingdom/Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and the winner will represent the Great Britain, but is facing opposition from the Scottish FA amd the Football Association of Wales.
So it will be interesting to see what happens Regarding 7's qualification for the Olympics as I would assume that there will be simliar obstacles
Last edited by jargan83; 27-05-09 at 14:05. Reason: I was wrong, amazing isn't it!!!
It's more energy sapping drawing a 60 pound recurve than shooting target!
Bag the shooters!
Actually the deflection is a vital part of the flight of the arrow and has nothing to do with speed, but more to do with the power imparted by the bow....It's quite interesting that the best archers draw the bow minute amounts more or less to ensure the arrow hits the butt at the right moment in the flex profile.
Well, it's mainly technique drawing at the poundage used in the olympics, but to a certain extent you are correct.
That event exists at the archery world championships, it's called clout, it's just not included in the olympics. There's no obstacle to shoot over, but the target faces upwards, so the archers shoot a ballistic trajectory...apparently it's very difficult, becaus you have nothing to sight on and the wind plays havoc with your accuracy.
C'mon the![]()
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It would do wonders for the game in the USA as well, if it is recognised as a olympic sport it will be elegible for tens of $millions in funding, Australia might get some extra support from the AIS as well.
It may get loads of funding through the college system, but it will be interesting to see if any of that flows on into the 15 man game.
That'd be up to how well USA Rugby manages the funds. A bit of something is better than a lot of nothing.
Apologies Gigs, you're obviously an archery afficianado...that one just always pops into mind because of afore-mentioned friend