Golf and Rugby Added to the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics Event Schedule

Two of the world’s oldest and most celebrated sports are making their long related return to the Summer Olympics.

On Friday it was announced that both golf and rugby would be added to the 2016 events schedule in Rio de Janeiro Olympics, and brought back in 2020 at a yet to be determined site. Both sports made their Olympic debuts in the 1900 Paris games but neither has been seen since 1924.

For golf, it was a landmark victory, and one backed by many of today’s top professionals. Men’s champion Padraig Harrington and women’s superstar Michelle Wie went to Copenhagen, Denmark to plead on behalf of their sport, with Tiger Woods sending in a taped message to the Olympic committee.

Although a site has yet to be determined for the event, the format has. Both the men and the women will play a 72-hole stroke play event, composed of 60 competitors on each side. Dates have yet to be determined, although the traditional Thursday-Sunday structure that PGA and LPGA tour events use will not necessarily be applied in the Olympics. Both professional tours made a pledge to the International Olympic Committee to play any major tournaments that ran concurrently to the Olympics event.

Golf was approved by a 63-27 vote, with two abstention ballots.

As for rugby, it was featured four times as an Olympics event from 1900-1924. Come 2016, the structure will include a four day, seven-aside tournament, that is expected to be more fan and sponsor friendly than the traditional 12-15-aside teams that play in most international tournaments.

Rugby was approved overwhelmingly by an 81-8 margin with one abstention vote.

As for betting odds when these two sports hit the summer games, golf already has a favorite. In a move that surprised few, British bookmaker Will Hill has already labeled Tiger Woods as a 6-1 favorite to take home the Gold Medal in Rio de Janeiro, according to NBCSports.com.

The approval of these two sports came under somewhat of a controversial circumstance. Both were rejected for the 2012 Summer Olympics, after baseball and softball were dropped from the schedule of events. That left two openings for the 2012 games that were never filled, dropping the total number of sports from the usual 28 down to 26. There will be 28 games again for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Many voters also showed concern over golf’s global appeal, and ability to field competitors from cash-strapped third world countries. Other concern was shown in regards to some country clubs not allowing female members.

But for the time being the two sports will be making their re-emergence in 2016. A board will review them in 2017 for the re-admittance for the 2020 games.