Pádraig: I’d love to be an Olympian
Golf and rugby are the favourites among the seven sports vying to be added to the 2016 summer Olympics, which will be award to Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro or Tokyo on October 2.
On Thursday, the 15-member executive board of the International Olympic Committee will narrow the list to two proposed sports, which will be voted on by the entire 106-member IOC Assembly in Copenhagen on October 9.
And Harrington insists he would jump at the chance to represent Ireland in an Olympic Games, even if he is 44 or 45 at the time.
“I’d love to be an Olympian,” Harrington said at Hazeltine yesterday. “Doesn’t that sound good? Imagine us being Olympic athletes.
“I think it would be fantastic for golf. As a golfer, I would think we have all the credentials to be Olympians.”
Woods confirmed yesterday that he would definitely compete for an Olympic gold medal if he got the chance.
“If I’m not retired by then, yeah,” Woods said, flashing a smile. “I think that golf is a truly global sport and I think it should have been in the Olympics a while ago.
“If it does get in, I think it would be great for golf and especially some of the other smaller countries that are now emerging in golf, I think it’s a great way for them to compete and play and get the exposure that some of these countries aren’t getting.”
Harrington pointed out that while the Olympic Games are not as big a deal in the US, it would be a huge honour for an Irishman or woman.
“In a country like Ireland, becoming an Olympic athlete is setting yourself apart. It is a major deal in Ireland. To be an athlete is an honour in itself,” he said.
“It is not a major at the moment but I’d slot it in as just after the majors. In 100 years time it could be a major, so could any of the world championships. It will be one of those tournaments that you’d like to win as it gains in stature.”
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