Harrington, Wie to aid golf's Olympic bid

Padraig Harrington and Michelle Wie are to participate in golf’s final presentation of its Olympic bid to International Olympic Committee members in Copenhagen on Friday.

Also taking part will be Europe’s leading woman player Suzann Pettersen and 16-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero, the youngest ever winner of the British Amateur title and joint 13th at The Open in July,

The four will join Ty Votaw, executive director of the International Golf Federation’s Olympic Golf Committee, and Peter Dawson, chief executive of the Royal and Ancient Club and joint secretary of the IGF.

Golf and rugby sevens, the two sports recommended for the 2016 Olympic programme in Rio de Janeiro by the IOC Executive Board, will present their final case to the full membership before it votes that same day on whether to accept one, both or neither sport.

“We have demonstrated to the IOC Executive Board throughout the evaluation process that golf’s bid to become an Olympic sport has received unprecedented support from both amateur and professional golf organisations around the world and leading international players,” said Votaw.

“Now we must reaffirm this support before the full IOC membership and we couldn’t be more pleased than to have Padraig, Suzann, Matteo and Michelle help to communicate this support during our final presentation.”

Leading up to Friday’s vote, golf and rugby sevens emerged from a year-long evaluation that included formal presentations by seven candidate sports.