Crouching Tiger smiling Springboks as IOC looks set to approve sports (Feature)

By Peter Auf der Heyde Sep 24, 2009, 5:05 GMT

   Hamburg - Tiger Woods has won just about everything there is to win in golf - counting 14 majors to the over 100 tournaments he has won.

   And now the American superstar has achieved what arguably can be described one of his greatest triumphs as he played his part in golf's expected return to the Olympic Games after 112 years.

   Woods, of course, was not the only person behind the decision taken in Berlin by the IOC Executive Board to propose the inclusion of golf and rugby sevens as new sports in 2016, a decision that needs to be rubber stamped by the IOC Session in Copenhagen October 6-9.

   But Woods, who will be 40 in 2016, did - among other golfing greats like Padraig Harrington and Colin Montgomerie - write a letter to IOC members urging them to support the sport.

   Golf proposes a 72-hole strokeplay competition for 60 men and 60 women, with the top 15 players in the world gaining direct entry.

   Rugby sevens, which plans a 12-team event each for men and women, also enlisted the help of some big-name players in their quest to be included in the 2016 line-up.

   The 2003 rugby World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio, former All Black legend Jonah Lomu and Waisale Serevi, rated the best-ever rugby sevens player, were amongst the ambassadors for the Olympic bid.

   Rugby sevens is an off-shoot of the traditional rugby union which is played with 15 players per side and was at the Olympics until 1924, when the US won the gold.

   The expected return was welcomed in countries such as South Africa and Fiji, who must believe they have a good chance of competing for the medals.

   However, strong contenders England, Wales and Scotland will not be allowed to compete as Olympic rules require one team from Great Britain, rather than individual teams from the Home Countries.

   Rugby sevens and golf got the nod ahead of softball, squash, baseball, karate and roller sports, which were also attempting to get onto the Olympic programme.

   The Berlin decision prompted criticism that the IOC opted to go for sports which are regarded as commercial and successful sports that do not really need the Olympics, but that was dismissed by IOC president Jacques Rogge.

   'They have that (big sponsors and audience) because they are popular sports. It is not by accident,' Rogge said in a conference call.

   'If you have a sport that generates money you have sport that is watched and desired and wanted by the people. We went for popularity, we did not want to go for money.'

   Players like Woods, Harrington or Montgomerie also do not need the money. However, the one thing that is missing in their collection is an Olympic gold medal.