Moves afoot to put golf in 2008 Olympics

Tiger Woods will be in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing if the International Olympic Committee's programme commission has their way…

Tiger Woods will be in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing if the International Olympic Committee's programme commission has their way.

IOC sources confirmed today that golf is one of three new sports to be slated in for the Beijing Games. The other two are wushu, a form of Chinese martial arts, and seven-a-side rugby.

But to include the three means throwing three sports out to make room for them. The three facing the axe are believed to be triathlon, baseball and softball.

The decision over what sports are included for Beijing will be taken at the extraordinary IOC Congress in Mexico where the future of the IOC is to be mapped out.

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Many IOC sponsors like the idea of having Woods and the other top world golfers in the Olympics but there are serious doubts that any of the top 50 players would go to the Games.

The dates normally set aside for a Summer Olympics would clash with the British Open, one of golf's four majors.

IOC president Jacques Rogge, a former rugby international for Belgium, is believed to be in favour of having sevens included and wushu is a favour to the Chinese hosts for 2008, according to IOC sources.

AFP