DECISION 2016: IRB's rugby sevens bid has ticked all the right boxes

ON Thursday the International Olympic Committee convene in Berlin to trim a shortlist of seven sports aspiring for a place at the 2016 Games down to two.

Last week, each of the sports - baseball, golf, karate, roller sports, rugby sevens, softball and squash - made their case. Now four Sportsbeat's reporters choose their personal preference, starting with George Scott - who is backing rugby sevens.

I always had one problem with rugby sevens’ bid for inclusion in the Olympic Games. Would it be the pinnacle of the sport? Would a gold medal be the ultimate goal for an athlete?

SUPPORTER: Former England seven captain Phil Greening - who played at the 2002 Commonwealth Games - is a high-profile backer of the sport's inclusion. And he's not the sort to be argued with.

But with the International Rugby Board proposing to scrap the World Cup Sevens, the final box has been ticked.

The Olympic motto is Citius, Altius, Fortius – Swifter, Higher, Stronger – and no other sport up for the vote fulfils those attributes in the same way rugby sevens does.

Too often the medal table dominated by the Olympic super powers, but rugby is a game barely played in America or China – a refreshing standpoint.

It gives a realistic chance of medals to developing Olympic nations – Zimbabwe, Tonga, Samoa, Kenya and Uruguay all enjoyed successful campaigns at the 2009 World Cup in Dubai.

On the other hand, six of the world’s top ten golfers are American, while American players have won 24 of the 39 majors played since 2000. 

Sevens is a truly global game worthy of the Greatest Show on Earth – 760 million people in 141 countries tuned in to the action in the United Arab Emirates.

There’s a global audience and fan base, with millions playing the game worldwide – can the same be said for roller sports?

And while squash may be an exciting game to play, to watch? No chance. You can barely see the ball.

With the IOC driving for more female participation – cross off baseball and softball, both single sex sports - the success of both the men’s and women’s tournaments in Dubai will be a hit.

But forget the stats for a minute.

Sevens is an exciting, fast-paced game, unlike no other in the Games – scrap karate, yet another martial art.

Matches are only 14 minutes long, but scores are comparable to an 80-minute game.

The athletes are the quickest, fittest and strongest in their sport.

And the tournament can be played over just a few days – without the need for a purpose built facility, perhaps in the Olympic Stadium before the track and field events commence.

The argument that rugby is a professional sport and should not be allowed in the Olympic Games is a tired one.

Almost every athlete in the Games will be funded and sponsored – medals are a multi-million pound business.

And with that, it’s impossible to ignore the commercial viability of rugby sevens.

It’s an ugly argument, but money talks and the IOC will be keen to ensure the future success of the Games.

But, most importantly, rugby sevens stands up where the other big money spinners fall. 

If it ticks the traditional boxes while generating income then it’s a banker in my eyes.

What do you think? Comment now or you can vote in our poll, where the debate is clearly raging.

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