HISTORY
Rugby sevens will be a part of the Summer Olympics for the first time in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This will not be the first time the sport of rugby has been included in the Games, however, as rugby union was played for medals on four occasions in 1900, 1908, 1920, and 1924.
At the first four Olympic rugby competitions, just a few nations entered teams each time, and the level of play was questionable, at best. France was victorious at home in 1900, with Australasia taking the title in 1908, followed by the U.S. earning the gold in 1920 and 1924.
RULES
The main difference between rugby union and rugby sevens is the number of players on the pitch. Rugby union uses 15 on each side, while rugby sevens obviously places seven-a-side on the pitch. For more information about the rules of rugby, please see this BBC site.
THE ROAD TO 2016
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted in 2009 to include a pair of additional sports for 2016. They chose golf and rugby sevens and both sports will be contested through at least the 2020 Games. The 2016 Games will be the first time an Olympics have been held in South America. The popularity of rugby globally has been helped over the past quarter century by the start of the Rugby World Cup in 1987, and greater promotion of the game worldwide through improvements in technology. The IOC looks at popularity on a geographical basis when making a decision on a new sport, as well as advertising revenue potential, among other things.
In terms of television exposure, the Rugby World Cup is now exceeded by only the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics, and the Tour de France, although the latter may be surpassed by the next Rugby World Cup scheduled for England in 2015.
THE COMPETITION IN 2016
Dates: The exact dates are still undecided. The Olympics will take place from August 5-21.
Venue: Sao Januario Stadium-it was built in 1927 and is undergoing extensive renovations.
Teams: There will be 12 teams for both the men's and women's tournaments. The host nation of Brazil is an automatic qualifier, with the rest to be determined through various competitions in the interim.
Challenges: Brazil is not competitive in rugby on the international level, the sport is not popular in the country, and it remains to be seen how well they can conduct a major rugby competition, especially in such an old facility.
Patrick Hattman covered the London Games for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. He is already looking forward to the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
View the original article here
Rugby sevens will be a part of the Summer Olympics for the first time in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This will not be the first time the sport of rugby has been included in the Games, however, as rugby union was played for medals on four occasions in 1900, 1908, 1920, and 1924.
At the first four Olympic rugby competitions, just a few nations entered teams each time, and the level of play was questionable, at best. France was victorious at home in 1900, with Australasia taking the title in 1908, followed by the U.S. earning the gold in 1920 and 1924.
RULES
The main difference between rugby union and rugby sevens is the number of players on the pitch. Rugby union uses 15 on each side, while rugby sevens obviously places seven-a-side on the pitch. For more information about the rules of rugby, please see this BBC site.
THE ROAD TO 2016
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted in 2009 to include a pair of additional sports for 2016. They chose golf and rugby sevens and both sports will be contested through at least the 2020 Games. The 2016 Games will be the first time an Olympics have been held in South America. The popularity of rugby globally has been helped over the past quarter century by the start of the Rugby World Cup in 1987, and greater promotion of the game worldwide through improvements in technology. The IOC looks at popularity on a geographical basis when making a decision on a new sport, as well as advertising revenue potential, among other things.
In terms of television exposure, the Rugby World Cup is now exceeded by only the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics, and the Tour de France, although the latter may be surpassed by the next Rugby World Cup scheduled for England in 2015.
THE COMPETITION IN 2016
Dates: The exact dates are still undecided. The Olympics will take place from August 5-21.
Venue: Sao Januario Stadium-it was built in 1927 and is undergoing extensive renovations.
Teams: There will be 12 teams for both the men's and women's tournaments. The host nation of Brazil is an automatic qualifier, with the rest to be determined through various competitions in the interim.
Challenges: Brazil is not competitive in rugby on the international level, the sport is not popular in the country, and it remains to be seen how well they can conduct a major rugby competition, especially in such an old facility.
Patrick Hattman covered the London Games for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. He is already looking forward to the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
View the original article here
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