Further to the golf / Olympics debate, in the Summer of 2009 The Times published odds offered by William Hill on cadidate sports for Olimpics inclusion. We’ll be finding out how these have changed in the intervening months…
Golf
Having featured twice in the Games, in 1900 and 1904, it has Olympic heritage and is global. A 72-hole strokeplay tournament would bring big stars such as Tiger Woods, big television audiences and big sponsors’ cheques.
Odds 5-1
Rugby sevens
Fast and exciting to watch, the abbreviated game has a good chance as Olympic officials seek more team sports to fill stadiums and boost TV ratings.
Odds 4-1
Squash The next logical leap for a sport that is a Commonwealth Games event, but it is burdened by the difficulty of watching a very small ball travelling at 160mph.
Odds 6-4
Baseball
The drugs issue, in which Major League Baseball stars have admitted to steroid use, has overshadowed the sport, which was kicked out at the last reshuffle for London 2012.
Odds 2-1
Softball
Although it joined the Olympic scrapheap in 2005, it has a strong case as an all-female sport but if women’s boxing is admitted for 2012, this argument would be undermined.
Odds 2-1
Karate
Most Olympic watchers think there are already too many baffling martial arts in the Games. The sport may claim 100 million participants worldwide but they are not the ones who are casting the vote.
Odds 2-1
Roller sports
The IOC is keen to grab the attention of young sports fans, but the vision — road racing but no skateboarding or roller hockey? — is muddled and the lobbying non-existent.
Odds 4-1
Would the thrill of the Majors work for Olympic audiences?