Olympics: IOC to consider golf bid for 2008 Games

The International Olympic Committee is to consider a formal application for golf to be included in the 2008 Games.

The application was filed by the World Amateur Golf Council, which is comprised of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club and the USGA.

IOC sports director Gilbert Felli said negotiations were continuing with the PGA.

Golf applied unsuccessfully to be included in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, and withdrew its petition for the 2004 Athens Games.

Beijing is the front-runner in the race for the 2008 Games, with Toronto and Paris as its main challengers. The vote on the host city will take place at the IOC session in Moscow on July 13.

Golf joins a long list of sports seeking to be added to the Olympic programme, including rugby, bowling, billiards, body building, ballroom dancing (dance sport), squash and surfing.

Felli said the IOC would begin discussing the sports' applications in September or October.

If approved, golf would be open to all professionals, meaning Tiger Woods could compete for a gold medal at the age of 32.

Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros have led a campaign for golf to be included in the Olympics.