(ATR) International Golf Federation president Peter Dawson says the legacy of golf’s Olympic debut in Rio de Janeiro is strong as one of the few venues still in use a year later.
"It’s strong, the course is still in great shape," Dawson told Around the Rings at the IOC Session in Lima, Peru. "We could do with the course getting some more play, but of the Rio venues it’s one of the ones being used regularly."
Golf was voted as one of 28 sports to maintain its presence on the Summer Olympic program during the Session. The sport will be played at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Summer Games and a decision on its inclusion to the Los Angeles 2028 program is expected in 2019.
Dawson said the sport’s Olympic debut demonstrated that it belonged in the Games.
"Golf ticked a lot of boxes," he said. "We had great competitions in Rio, a wonderful podium of both men and women medalists. Golf is a sport that is followed widely around the world and the television ratings were very good in some of the major markets and I think that was a factor.
"Commercially as well, golf is successful and adds to the profile of support that the IOC gets commercially. But essentially it’s a great sport and we have great players."
Organizers of Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 have already earmarked the courses where golf will expand its Olympic legacy. Dawson said the already built venues ease the concerns of the IGF with planning for the future Games.
"I’ll be expecting Golf Nacional which hosts the French Open and the Ryder Cup next year to be the venue [for Paris 2024]. It’s a course that’s well known to the world’s professionals and one that’s very popular with them.
"That of course is true in Tokyo too. We have Kasumigaseki of course that is well known to us, it’s had some upgrades but it’s been there for a long time."
Written by Kevin Nutley
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