COUV_7FI.qxp:Couverture Working Group Report 2016 420+14mm 2.9.2009 10:16 Page 1 REPORT ON THE SEVEN INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS SHORT-LISTED FOR THE GAMES OF THE XXXI OLYMPIAD OLYMPIC PROGRAMME COMMISSION – AUGUST 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................ 3 IF SECTION INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL FEDERATION................................................................................. 4 IBAF INTERNATIONAL GOLF FEDERATION ......................................................................................... 22 IGF WORLD KARATE FEDERATION................................................................................................... 49 WKF FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE ROLLER SPORTS................................................................ 69 FIRS INTERNATIONAL RUGBY BOARD ............................................................................................... 86 IRB INTERNATIONAL SOFTBALL FEDERATION................................................................................. 117 ISF WORLD SQUASH FEDERATION.................................................................................................. 138 WSF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................................. 173 2 METHODOLOGY Background The Olympic Programme Commission conducted an analysis of the seven sports short-listed for inclusion in the 2016 Olympic Programme. This report is meant to provide the IOC Executive Board and the IOC Session with the maximum of information on the seven sports. Evaluation criteria In order to conduct its analysis, the Olympic Programme Commission used the set of 33 evaluation criteria that were approved by the IOC Session, in 2004 in Athens. Data collection In December 2008, a questionnaire was sent to each of the seven International Federations selected by the IOC Executive Board for possible inclusion in the 2016 Olympic Programme. Completed questionnaires were then returned in February to the IOC Sports Department which had the responsibility to verify responses and request further information or clarification where necessary. Please note that most of the information provided by the International Federations was accepted as provided and has been presented accordingly in the report. The Olympic Programme Commission report is based on the following sources of information: IBAF • Completed questionnaires from the Federations • Information gathered through the Observation Programme conducted by the Olympic Programme Commission for each sport IGF • IOC experts’ knowledge • Information gathered through Olympic Studies Centre WKF • Information gathered through the World Anti-Doping Agency Report preparation FIRS December 2008 Questionnaire sent to the seven International Federations February 2009 The seven International Federations returned completed questionnaires IRB May 2009 Meeting of the Olympic Programme Commission July 2009 The seven International Federations provided comments regarding their section of the report (In the interest of openness, every effort was made to include as many comments from the International Federations as possible) ISF August 2009 The IOC Executive Board to prepare for the IOC Session a recommendation of a maximum of two new sports for 2016 Report format WSF The report is presented on an IF by IF basis, in alphabetical order by sport. Each section of the report follows the same structure; Olympic proposal, History and tradition, Universality, Popularity, Transparency and fairness on the field of play, Athlete welfare, Development, Governance and Annex. The first section entitled Olympic proposal describes the proposal submitted by each International Federation and the added value, which they believe their sport would bring to the Olympic Programme. For this section and parts of the section on Development, the information presented in the report is in most cases a summary, prepared by the Olympic Programme Commission, of the information provided by the International Federations. The original text provided by the International Federation is included in the Annex of each report (Section 9). In the cases where an International Federation provided financial data in a currency other than USD, the figure was converted based on the exchange rate on April 15, 2009. 3 IBAF INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL FEDERATION OLYMPIC PROPOSAL................................................................................................................. 5 HISTORY AND TRADITION ......................................................................................................... 9 UNIVERSALITY.......................................................................................................................... 9 POPULARITY............................................................................................................................. 11 IBAF TRANSPARENCY AND FAIRNESS ON THE FIELD OF PLAY.......................................................... 12 IGF ATHLETE WELFARE................................................................................................................... 13 DEVELOPMENT......................................................................................................................... 14 WKF GOVERNANCE........................................................................................................................... 16 FIRS ANNEX...................................................................................................................................... 18 IRB ISF WSF 4 IBAF INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL FEDERATION OLYMPIC PROPOSAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION Discipline proposed for inclusion in the Olympic Games: Baseball Event proposed for inclusion in the Olympic Games $ £ Women could be included Baseball if requested by the IOC Competition format • 5-days of competition • 8-teams competing in pool play Athlete quota $ £ 176 Not applicable (8 teams ϫ 22 athletes) IBAF Foreseen qualification system IGF The eight teams would qualify accordingly: • 1 place allocated to the host country • 4 places allocated by qualification through Continental Championships (1 Asia, 2 Americas, 1 Europe) WKF • 3 places allocated based on other qualifying results International and national officials FIRS The number of international and national officials required to run the competitions at the Olympic Games would be: International National IRB 40 1 Other discipline(s)/event(s) which may be proposed for inclusion in future Olympic Games: Women’s baseball ISF Sport presentation Description of the way the event is/would be presented at the following competitions: WSF Major competitions: • Game programmes • Announcements and music (including national anthems of participating teams) • Scoreboard and video board • Goodwill exchange of gifts • Ceremonial first pitch prior to the start of the game • Fan contests and competitions • For multinational events, local “cultural” entertainment during both pre-game and in-game activities Olympic Games: Same as major competitions, as outlined above 5 IBAF INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL FEDERATION VENUE AND EQUIPMENT Competition/warm-up/training venue requirements Competition venue Number of venues 2 Type of venue(s) Baseball field Capacity of competition venue(s) required 3,000 spectators Average cost of infrastructure(s) needed USD 10 million (including training venue) Possibility of sharing the venue(s) with other sports Yes (softball) Technical requirements Field of play to be constructed following IBAF specifications and regulations regarding surface, drainage and overall dimensions. Warm-up venue Number of venues A warm-up venue is not required Type of venue(s) needed Not applicable Training venue Number of venues Minimum 1 Type of venue(s) needed Baseball field Possibility of sharing the venue(s) with other sports Yes (softball) IBAF Technical requirements Field of play to be constructed following IBAF specifications and regulations regarding surface, drainage and overall dimensions. IGF Sports equipment WKF Sports equipment required to run the competition: Equipment Bases Balls FIRS Quantity 16 1,000 Total average cost USD 400 USD 2,000 IRB Personal equipment The cost of personal equipment a person needs to: ISF • Compete at an elite level: USD 350 (spikes, glove and bat) • Get involved in the sport: Less than USD 20 (glove, bat, ball) WSF 6 IBAF INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL FEDERATION VALUE Rationale/reasoning of proposal The IBAF states that baseball has a long history in the Olympic Programme, both as a medal sport since 1992, and prior to that as a successful demonstration sport in the early 20th century. It is played globally, with over 125 member federations and is the third- most played sport in the world. It has no racial, social or gender barriers, draws worldwide media interest and speaks directly to the Olympic motto of Citius, Altius, Fortius. Baseball continues to grow worldwide, with almost double the member federations from 10 years ago. It supports the Olympic ideals through the success of both team and individual play, and it is relatively inexpensive. Because of the current success and exposure of the sport on a global basis, baseball can also be a great vehicle to continue to tell the Olympic story and give the Olympic Movement additional year-round exposure, especially in those years when the Games are not being held. Baseball also has the ability to attract