Olympics can be the Rio deal
WITH theWorld Cup now out of the way, the countdown begins in Brazil for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
And that means a long-awaited return to the fold for golf after a 100-year absence.
Like the infrastructure for football’s top tournament, preparations for the course are well behind schedule.
There’s not even any grass on it yet, and organisers are worried that it won’t be ready on time.
That didn’t stop Rory McIlroy from announcing that he wants to be in Rio representing Ireland.
And former EuropeanTour player Jamie Spence, who is the Team Leader forTeam GB golf, isn’t downbeat about what lies ahead.
“There are concerns about the course, but they are out of my hands,” he says.“I’m told it will be ready.
“When it is finished, I want to be able to go and play it a couple of times and give feedback to the guys.
“But building a golf course in a sensitive area like a nature reserve is not an easy task.
“Everyone will have to go with an open mind, and anyway, golfers are used to playing in totally different conditions.
“If I was playing, I wouldn’t be moaning about the course or conditions. I would love just being in the Olympics.
“So I’m confident the competitors will deal with it.”
The Olympics is a huge platform to spread the game of golf and Spence knows it can be a catalyst to re-energise the sport.
He believes that golf must use this opportunity to develop in new countries and end the overreliance on the United States.
“This is definitely what the game needs. We need the Olympics to progress,” says Spence.
“If we want to spread the game, in places like Eastern Europe, golf must be in the Olympics. That is the only way for them to get funding.
“I’m hoping that as the Olympics moves around the globe, this becomes a huge golf event. We all talk about a fifth major – why can’t it be the Olympics?”