No for rugby in Olympic games

The rugby was introduced by Pierre de Coubertin in Olympic Games in 1900 in Paris. The only reason why rugby integrated Olympic games is the fact that Pierre de Coubertin formed the International Olympic committe (IOC) in 1894. This frenchman was really involved in this sport, indeed he refereed the final of the french championship in the biginning of the 20th century.

The integration of a sport isn't supposed to be the act of only one man even if he's very influent. Rugby was in Olympic Games in only 4 places :

• Paris 1900
• London 1908
• Antwerp 1920
• Paris 1924

Rugby wasn't included in St-Louis (1904) and in Stockholm (1912) showing the fact that Rugby didn't interest every country in the world. Rugby isn't very famous in the best olympic countries like United States, China or Russia.

The rumour has it that rugby has been stopped after Olympic Games of 1924 because the game was considered too much brutal and contrary to the olympic values and ideals. The rugby defenders scream that rugby isn't violent now showing the bad exemple of the football where fights in the seats are common.
Last week, the french championship was the witness of a big fight, one more time.

Toulon v Stade Francais - Fight - 13/09/08 Rugby
envoyé par rngobingobango

The regular fights in this game are contrary to the olympic image.

Furthermore in which conditions International Rugby Board and IOC would like to integrate the Rugby ?

--> With professional players ? and forget the olympic ideal ? Furthermore the calendar in rugby is really bad organized and we will meet problems with clubs.

--> With youth players like under 23 ? The football in olympic is a football parody, nobody is interested by this competition in Olympic Games.

--> With 15 players in the traditional version? how is it possible to have a tournament in 15 days when the world cup is on 45 days?

--> With 7 players ? the 7 is not famous at all and not practised by the best players. That's not at all the same game.



Why rugby more than Baseball or Golf practised by a lot of people in the world ?
The rugby hasn't definitely his place in the olympic environment

Yes for rugby in Olympic Games!

The rugby left olympic Games long years ago when the game was so brutal that the olympic committe wondered if rugby was a boxe match on a big grass pitch. The rugby wasn't popular like today.

The rugby world cup is today the 3rd biggest sport event in the world. The french world cup showed at everybody that rugby is a sport carrier of essential values like courage, solidarity, friendship and fair-play so close than Olympic ideals. IRB (International Rugby Board) would lijke to integrate rugby union in Olympic Games thanks to the Rugby sevens, disciplinary of Rugby union more spectacular and less brutal.

Exemple with a little movie on one of the biggest competition of seven rugby in Hong Kong

Threw this little movie we can see how the sevens rugby is spectacular and simple to understand for everyone. Furthermore this two nations (Fidji and New-Zealand) are the best in this sport, that is good for olympic games which want to integrate more and more countries. Integrating seven rugby is also extend the number of countries able to win a medal. As a matter of fact, giving medal to Fidji islands, or Samoa islands, is suitable with the olympic ideal.

Given that rugby world cup is currently one of the most profitable event, we can be sure that Rugby will increase funds to grow the Olympic movement. Furthermore, it's not necessary to build a new equipment to welcome rugby, indeed, it's possible to play on the football pitch changing the lines only.

We are on a very important step for the rugby development because if the oval rugby want to interest all over the world, it needs to have more advertising that his world cup. Installing rugby in Olympic games could convince some countries like China or United States to develop strong te ams to win a new medal.



The decision of the integration or not will be decided by the IOC in Copenhagen(Denmark) in 2009. We can notice that Jacques Rogge the chairman of the IOC played rugby in Belgium...it's maybe the good occasion to show how rugby is a wonderful sport!

Movie will be presented in Copenhagen in 2009