Golf will remain in the Olympic Games at least until 2024 after the International Olympic Committee Executive Board on Friday approved that all 28 sports from the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro will return.
Golf was played in the Olympics in 2016 for the first time since the 1904 Games in St. Louis.
“The IGF is gratified to learn of the IOC Executive Board’s decision to include golf in its recommendation for the Olympic Games Programme in 2024,” the International Golf Federation said in a statement on Saturday. “We look forward to learning the outcome of the final vote at the IOC Session in September.
“We were always confident that golf would deliver exciting men’s and women’s competitions in Rio de Janeiro and even at that, it exceeded our expectations. Now, we are excited to build upon the success from last year as we prepare for the 2020 Games in Tokyo and, hopefully, beyond.”
The recommendation of the IOC Executive Board is set to be ratified by all IOC members at the 130th IOC Session scheduled for Sept. 13 in Lima, Peru.
On that date, it also will be announced whether the 2024 Olympics will be hosted by Paris or Los Angeles.
Golf will be played in the 2020 Games at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Tokyo.
Justin Rose of Great Britain won the gold medal, with Henrik Stenson of Sweden grabbing the silver and Matt Kuchar of the United States taking the bronze in the men’s golf competition in Rio.
Inbee Park of South Korea won the women’s gold medal, with Lydia Ko of New Zealand earning the silver and Shanshan Feng of China taking the bronze.
–Courtesy of The Sports Exchange, TSX Golf Editor Tom LaMarre
