SINGAPORE 2005: 2012 Olympic Sport Vote
11 July 2005
The IOC acts as the guardian of the Olympic Games; this means not only ensuring the quality of this, the world's greatest sporting event, but also acting as a custodian to the inspirational values the Games convey to all those they touch.
In this role, the IOC follows a strategic policy to maintain and develop the excellence of the Games and to ensure they continue to inspire future generations.
Fresh and Relevant
A key element which makes the Olympic Games inspirational is the Olympic programme - that is, the menu of sports which make up the Games. The IOC has undertaken two years of in-depth study through the efforts of the Olympic Programme Commission, working in collaboration with the International Sports Federations and other Olympic stakeholders, to study the Olympic programme and to put in place a mechanism which allows the programme to be reviewed and, if necessary, changed, so that it remains fresh and relevant for the youth of tomorrow.
Landmark
The work of the Olympic Programme Commission reached a landmark in Singapore at the 117th IOC Session, when, for the first time in decades, the Olympic programme was reviewed. IOC members voted on each one of the 28 sports from the Athens 2004 Games to decide whether or not they should be staged at the Games in London in 2012. The members made history by voting for change for the first time in almost 70 years. Twenty-six of the 28 sports from Athens 2004 were chosen for London 2012. Two sports, baseball and softball, did not receive the majority of votes needed, although they do remain on the list of Olympic sports and are therefore eligible for possible inclusion at future Olympic Games.
New Sports
The non-inclusion of baseball and softball allowed the IOC members to vote on the inclusion of two new sports for the 2012 Olympic Games, since a total of 28 sports can be accepted on the Olympic programme. Five "non-Olympic" sports - roller sports, squash, golf, karate and rugby sevens - had been studied by the Olympic Programme Commission as part of its two-year analysis. From these five "non-Olympic" sports, the IOC members selected karate and squash as the two sports which could potentially be chosen to join the Olympic programme for London 2012. For such a selection to be endorsed, however, a two-thirds majority is needed, since any "non-Olympic" sport must become an Olympic sport and listed as such in the Olympic Charter under Rule 46. Ultimately, neither squash nor karate obtained this two thirds majority and will therefore not be included for London 2012. Full figures of the rounds of voting are listed below:
Selection of Two Sports for Nomination
First Round
Karate: 23
Roller Sports: 20
Rugby: 17
Squash: 16
Golf: 14
Second Round
Karate: 27
Rugby: 22
Squash: 21
Roller Sports: 20
Third Round
Karate: 33
Squash: 29
Rugby: 25
Fourth Round
Squash: 40
Karate: 39
Squash is elected as one of the two nominees.
Fifth Round
Karate: 32
Rugby: 23
Roller Sports: 22
Golf: 15
Sixth Round
Karate: 35
Rugby: 33
Roller Sports: 28
Seventh Round
Karate: 54
Rugby: 38
Karate is elected as one of the two nominees.
Vote on the Inclusion of Squash in Rule 46 of the Olympic Charter
Yes: 39
No: 63
Squash is not included in Rule 46 of the Olympic Charter
Vote on the Inclusion of Karate on Rule 46 of the Olympic Charter
Yes: 38
No: 63
Karate is not included in Rule 46 of the Olympic Charter
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