jun.14.2007
In 2005 at the 117th International Olympic Committee(IOC) session in Singapore- Rugby7s ,Golf,Karate,Rollerskating and Squash were shortlisted for consideration for elevation to Olympic sport status however after 7 rounds of voting Karate and Squash moved ahead in the race to replace Basketball and Softball on the Olympic Programme.The IOC membership however voted not to include any new sport on the 2012 Olympic programme.
Two years later the passage of time has not changed the view of Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union(TTRFU) Secretary Brian Lewis that the IOC lost a golden opportunity ."There is a perception that the Olympic Games is a closed shop ,If the IOC wants the Olympic Games to remain relevant they have to consider the changing interests of a modern generation".
Lewis who is also the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC)Secretary General suggests that the danger for the Olympic Movement is that sports that are not on the Olympic Games programme will be forced into creating an alternative Games that could eventually rival the Olympic Games.
Rugby 7s proved its worth on the Commonwealth Games programme,meets the IOC criteria and would be an exciting and lucrative addition to the Olympic Programme.
However the Trinidadian sport administrator believes that not getting onto the 2012 Olympic Games programme is a blessing in disguise as it allows the International Rugby Board (IRB)to focus on issues such as widening even further global participation and raising to an even higher level the profile and awareness of rugby.
"The growth potential of rugby is enormous ,once that potential is fully realized ,Rugby will be a marquee , lucrative and self sufficient modern sport ".
The IOC will next consider changes to the Olympic programme in 2009.Inclusion on the 2016 Olympic programme remains a possibility.Squash and Karate would be considering themselves front runners on the basis of what transpired at the 2005 meeting.
But Lewis is confident that having gone through the process the IRB is now aware of what needs to be done to strengthen rugby's case."The next two years are critical and I would not expect the IRB to drop the ball .Rugby deserves to be an Olympic sport and achieving that status must remain a priority.2009 is just around the corner".