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Titled: Should rugby sevens be in the Olympics?
Should rugby sevens be in the Olympics?
Article Summary: Should the rugby sevens code be included as an olympic event? the idea has been muted on a few occassions. Here we take a look at the whys and wherefores of such an idea.
Should rugby sevens be in the Olympics?
With the Beijing Olympics under way now and the new rugby season looming large on the horizon it is natural to again start thinking on the question, should rugby be part of the Olympic program?
It is something that rugby has been lobbying for now for sometime, and it's easy to see why. The exposure to a international audience would be huge, billions of people now watch the Olympics. News reports would spread throughout the world and it would greatly increase the 'brand recognition' of the sport throughout the world.
The Olympic Committee, however, have been resisting. They have now reached, I believe, a 'one in, one out' level. It has been decided that the Olympics now has the right number of sports taking part and so for one to enter another sport must be removed.
But rugby sevens can really add something to the Olympics. The fifteen aside game is too intense to put a worthwhile tournament together in such a short space of time. But the IRB World Sevens Series is now a big event, and each tournament only takes place over the course of a weekend, which would be easy to fit into any Olympic schedule.
According to the IRB (International Rugby Board) statistics in the 06/07 season the sevens tournament reached 213 million homes. All games bring attendances of over 25,000 and in 06/07 a cumulative attendance of 250,000 was reached in eight tournaments.
That is considerably more than you will get for gymnastic events, diving or flag waving. It can also bring in more interest with the likes of Joe Rokocoko, Brian Habana and Matt Giteau able to strut their stuff whilst targeting Olympic gold. These sort of big name players are rarely present in the IRB world series but the lure of the Olympics could well see them brought in.
Integrating the rugby sevens format into current stadiums should not provide much of an issue. Football (soccer) is already part of the Olympic program and it is easy to use the same pitches with only a little transition in line painting and post changing. Indeed many British teams share their stadiums with football teams, including such top level teams as EDF champions the Ospreys, English league champions Wasps and Guinness Premiership side London Irish, and the highest level the Millenium Stadium has hosted international football and rugby... as well as the Rugby World Cup in 1999.
Rugby sevens is already a part of the Commonwealth games, having been a part of it for three tournaments now, and is widely viewed as a success. This has shown how well the format can fit into an international athletics and sport competition and removes much of the argument from people against it who quote 'logistical issues'.
By looking at the maths, the attendances, viewing figures and world interest it is hard to see why rugby sevens is not part of the official Olympic Schedule. Apparently the IRB are stepping up their efforts to try get it included by 2016, I hope they manage it.
Article Source: http://www.upublish.info
About the Author:
Nick Jones
Nick is a rugby fanatic and keeps the world up to date on his rugby thoughts over on his rugby blog.
Aside from posting his thoughts he also plays (ok, waddles around the park) for Swansea uplands in Division 5 West in the Welsh leagues.
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