The Olympic values of excellence, friendship and fair play form the basis of a philosophy – the ethos of Olympism – that has stood the test of time for millennia. Our sport, golf, shares these core values, and, we, like the Olympic Movement, also believe these traditions serve as lessons for life beyond sport.
The origins of golf date back to 15th-century Scotland, and today the sport is played by more than 60 million people on six continents around the world. Golf has experienced tremendous growth for both men and women players and at all age levels. From grass-roots programs for youth to globally telecast championship tournaments, golf has proven to be a highly popular, dramatic and enduring sporting competition.
Golf was part of the sports programme at the 1900 and 1904 Olympic Games, and it is our distinct honour to re-join the Olympic Movement for the 2016 Olympic Games and, hopefully, beyond.
The International Golf Federation (IGF), has brought the professional game – led by the PGA TOUR, the LPGA, the European Tour, the PGA of America and Augusta National Golf Club – together with its two founding organizations, The R&A and the United States Golf Association, and its 131 national federation members from around the world, to increase worldwide participation in our sport, with a special focus on youth in emerging countries. It is our fervent belief that the power of the Olympic Games will help take our sport to new hearts, minds and locations in every corner of the world.
The Olympic Games have always represented ideals that transcend sport; and that is the genius of Olympism, using great athletes’ achievements to teach and inspire us about universal values. The IGF and millions of golfers around the world are honoured to again see our athletes walk among the heroes at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, to serve as wonderful examples of sportsmanship and good will and to further the great causes of excellence, friendship and fair play in this most unique of all human endeavours – the Olympic Games.