Copenhagen - The world's leading golf and rugby professionals will be competing for gold medals at the 2016 Olympics after both sports were admitted to the summer Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday. The two sports - with rugby in its seven-a-side version - were approved for the 2016 and 2020 Games in votes at the IOC Congress in Copenhagen following 20-minute presentations.
Tiger Woods and some of the world's leading golfers urged the IOC to include the sport on the Olympic programme, with Woods indicating he would want to play in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
"It's win-win for both sides - golf is such a global sport. I couldn't think of a better sport to be part of the Olympic Games," Woods said in a video message from the United States where he is playing at the Presidents Cup.
All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu, helping to represent rugby sevens at the congress, told delegates: "To see my sport in the best arena would be fantastic for rugby, men's and women's. We are very passionate about it - you just have to say where we have to play and the best players will come.
"I can speak for all of them - they will turn up."
Golf returns after 112 years, while rugby was played at the Olympics in 1924 in its 15-a-side version.
Golf proposes a 72-hole strokeplay competition with 60 women and men each, while rugby plans a 12-team tournament for men and women.
Members voted 63-27 for golf, and 81-8 in favour of rugby.
IOC president Jacques Rogge, who was earlier reelected in office for a final four-year term, told delegates: "Time will show your decision was very wise."
The vote is seen as a further confirmation for Rogge who had supported both sports. They had been forward by the executive board in August under Rogge's guidance, at the expense of baseball, softball, squash, karate and roller sports.
They are the first new sports added since triathlon and taekwondo joined the programme for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Golf's presentation video included Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and playing legend Jack Nicklaus.
"There are millions of young golfers worldwide who would be proud to represent their country," Woods said.
"It would be an honour for anyone who plays this game to become an Olympian."
Top professionals Padraig Harrington of Ireland, Michelle Wie of the United States and Suzann Pettersen of Norway, as well as 16-year-old Italian golfing talent Matteo Manassero were in Copenhagen to make a final presentation to the IOC before the vote.
Wie told delegates how she started playing as a four-year-old and could now "dream about doing something that neither Tiger nor Ernie (Els) have ever done, and that is to make the final putt to win an Olympic gold medal."
She added: "If this dream comes true, somewhere in the world there will be another 4-year-old who sees me on that podium and perhaps starts her own Olympic dream."
Rugby bid leader Mike Miller, the secretary-general of the International Rugby Board, said the rugby sevens format was "made for television, made for sponsors, and most importantly loved for fans and players alike."
Bernard Lapasset, president of the International Rugby Board, said the Olympics would be "the pinnacle of our sport."
"This is a historic moment for our sport and for the global rugby community, who were united in support of our campaign," he added.
In the vote for IOC president, Rogge was the only candidate and his reelection was clear-cut. In a secret ballot the 67-year-old Belgian received 88 votes in his favour with one against. Three delegates abstained and one vote was invalid.
"You have paid me a great honour. Together we have achieved a lot," said Rogge, who took over from Spaniard Juan Antonio Samaranch on July 16, 2001.
Rogge said there was "much more to do" in his final four-year term, and underlined the importance of the new Youth Olympic Games, which will debut in Singapore in August, followed by the Youth Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck in 2012.
"We will take this initiative from infancy to maturity and leave a lasting legacy for the world's youth," he said.
"We will be staunch allies for athletes. We will continue to lead the fight against doping, and we will establish a new independent monitoring body to combat irregular betting and match fixing.
"We will narrow the gap in sport between the developed and the developing worlds; and between men and women."
Rogge, who was first elected at the 112th IOC Session in Moscow in 2001 as the eighth IOC president, has overseen successful summer Olympics in Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008) and winter Games in Salt Lake City (2002) and Turin, Italy (2006).
The former athlete, who competed in the sailing competitions at the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Games and was also a member of the Belgian national rugby team, has made the fight against doping a priority and initiated a series of reforms to improve IOC governance.
Under his tenure the IOC has also quadrupled its financial reserves while distributing record revenue to international federations, National Olympic Committees and the Olympic Solidarity programme, which offers financial and training assistance to athletes.
