PGA TOUR’s Votaw Selected To Coordinate Olympic Golf Initiative
The International Golf Federation (IGF), recognised as the representative body for golf by the International Olympic Committee, today announced the creation of an Olympic Golf Committee to drive its effort for the sport’s inclusion in the 2016 Games. Organisations that will be represented on the committee are The R&A, PGA European Tour, USGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, LPGA and Augusta National Golf Club.
During a press conference at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, the IGF also introduced PGA TOUR executive Ty Votaw as the person who will coordinate the Olympic golf movement on behalf of the IGF’s Olympic Golf Committee and other golf organisations around the world. Votaw will serve in a newly created position as Executive Director, IGF Olympic Golf Committee and will work closely with the organisations involved.
Votaw, who will continue as PGA TOUR Executive Vice President of Communications and International Affairs, will lead the Olympic effort until October 2009, when the International Olympic Committee votes on which, if any, sports to add.
“Considering his vast experience in dealing with international golf organisations and issues as a member of the PGA TOUR executive staff and as a former commissioner of the LPGA, Ty is uniquely qualified to lead this effort on behalf of the International Golf Federation,” said Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A. “Having someone of Ty’s reputation and expertise serve in this capacity certainly enhances our efforts to add golf as an Olympic sport.”
“There is a significant amount of work to be done between now and next October, when the IOC makes its decision,” PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem said. “As the PGA TOUR considers this a very important initiative on behalf of the international golf community, we are pleased to provide Ty and the majority of his time to coordinate this effort.”
Golf is one of seven sports under consideration, along with baseball, karate, roller sports, rugby sevens, softball and squash. The IOC will vote in October 2009 on whether to add no more than two of these sports. Golf is bidding to become an Olympic sport for the first time since 1904, when it was contested in St. Louis, USA. At that time, men’s individual and team titles were contested among 77 golfers representing just two nations – 74 from the United States and three from Canada. Today, 20 countries are represented among the 100 top male players in the world, based on the Official World Golf Ranking, while 16 countries are represented among the top 100 women, according to the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
“Without question, golf’s international popularity has grown significantly over the past couple of decades and the sport continues to expand and develop in new countries,” Votaw said. “So the time is right to champion golf as an Olympic sport. It’s wonderful that this has become such a united effort among golf’s leading organisations. I’m excited about this opportunity and very much look forward to the challenge and, hopefully, reward of bringing golf back to the Olympics.”
The IGF was founded in 1958 as the World Amateur Golf Council to encourage the international development of the game. It took its current name in 2003 and today includes the national governing bodies of golf from more than 110 countries.
The host city for the 2016 Games will be determined at the 121st IOC session, scheduled for Oct. 2, 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The four finalists areChicago, USA; Madrid, Spain; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Tokyo, Japan.
This email is strictly confidential. It is intended solely for the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient you must not copy, disclose, distribute or take any action in reliance on this email. If you have received this email in error, please delete it and notify The R&A immediately. The R&A does not accept any liability for any harm that may be caused to the recipient’s systems or data by this email or any attachment to this email. Under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, the email system of The R&A is subject to random monitoring.
For the purposes of this legal disclaimer, “The R&A” is the body on whose behalf this email has been sent, being one of the following: R&A Championships Limited, R&A Rules Limited, R&A Group Services Limited, The R&A Foundation and The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews Trust, each of which has its registered office at Beach House, Golf Place, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9JA, and The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
If the body on whose behalf this email has been sent has not been specifically identified, then this email shall be deemed to have been sent on behalf of R&A Group Services Limited.
The R&A Foundation is a company limited by guarantee incorporated in Scotland (number 247050), has its registered office as stated above and is a Scottish charity (number SC034817).
The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews Trust is a company limited by guarantee incorporated in Scotland (number 102624), has its registered office as stated above, is a Scottish charity (number SC007857) and manages the British Golf Museum in St Andrews.
Contact:
