"The Sevens Debate" looks at rugby's Olympic prospects from an editorial point of view:

Sevens rugby is a core sport of the Commonwealth Games, and 50,000 fans watched the final day’s play in Melbourne three years ago. Sevens is also part of The World Games and the Asian Games, and it will soon be part of the Pan-American Games and All-Africa Games. However, entry to the Olympics has remained elusive for the IRB.

In 2005, the IOC voted on the current sports program, and baseball and softball were removed from the 2012 London Olympics (they will be at Beijing this year). A vote was then taken to decide if two other sports should be added to reach the maximum of 28. Rugby sevens, karate, squash, golf and roller sport were put forward, but none was accepted into the program (the IRB still doesn’t know why). The irony is that IOC president Jacques Rogge is rugby-mad and played for Belgium. However, he has been under pressure since becoming president in 2001, and others in the organization have used his support for rugby against him.
The IOC will vote again on the sports program in 2009, when the IRB again plans to state its sevens case. According to recent reports, the IRB will appoint a professional lobbyist to target those countries – and those votes – they need.

From a commercial point of view, the IRB will also agree to fund and underwrite the organization of any Olympic Sevens tournament, which would in any case be a huge money spinner for the IOC. The tournament would be held over two days (the Beijing stadium will be empty for six during this year’s Olympics) along with a women’s event.

The IRB believes an Olympics Sevens tournament would help to grow the game around the world.

From an article on keo.co.za, the official partner of rugby in South Africa. Read the full article here!