Rugby, last seen at the Paris Games in 1924, will return to the Olympics Rugby with a four-day seven-a-side tournament for 12 men's and women's teams.
The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Vote
The IOC voted 81-8 to include rugby with one abstention. Rugby and Golf (which was also reinstated after a long absence) will bring the number of sports at the 2016 Olympics back to 28.
This fills the two openings there have been on the program since softball and baseball were dropped from the 2012 London games after a vote in 2005.
The vote at an IOC session in Copenhagen reverses the decision in 2005 to reject rugby and golf’s inclusion in the 2012 Games, but only guarantees the sports inclusion for two successive games.
A review of the sports status will be undertaken in 2017 by the IOC to determine whether the sports will be included in the 2020 Games.
The result comes after intense lobbying by the rugby community for many years and is the first time new sports have been added to the Olympic agenda since the triathlon and taekwondo were added for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Joyous Reaction
The vote was taken after presentations from supporters of the sports and members of the rugby group leapt from their seats cheering after the announcement.
A member of the group was New Zealand rugby great Jonah Lomu who first made his mark playing rugby sevens.
Lomu had been asked by the International Rugby Board to help promote rugby’s cause to the IOC and was presented to the full IOC assembly before the vote.
Sevens Rugby Ideal for the Olympics
While the traditional 15-a-side game was featured at the Olympics in the past, the fast-paced seven-a-side variation is of much shorter duration and will allow more teams to compete.
The seven-a-side variation has also proved successful at such events as the Commonwealth Games and is better suited to television.
Olympic Inclusion Hoped to Widen Rugby's Appeal
Rugby enthusiasts and the games officials worldwide are ecstatic about the impact rugby’s inclusion in the world’s greatest sporting spectacle may have on the sport’s popularity.
The inclusion of the women’s game is seen as an added bonus that will further help promote and widen the appeal of the game.
Now that the sport has Olympic status the IRB Rugby Sevens World Cup will be discontinued.
The United States are Reigning Olympic Rugby Champions
The last time rugby featured at the Olympics in 1924 the gold medal was won by the USA. At this stage the venue and how teams will be chosen to compete has not been decided.
