DR. MICHAEL COOPER
Blog: August 2012
Golf and the 2016 Olympics
I hope you are watching and enjoying the London 2012 Olympic Games. If you are, then I am sure you often get goose bumps; just like me. Goose bumps just considering the magnitude of the occasion. Goose bumps marveling the athleticism. Goose bumps thinking of the lifetime commitment to compete and improve, at times, by mere hundreds of a second. And goose bumps of appreciation and emotion at the thought that sports can cut across cultures, stereotypes, and politics, and help to unite the world; albeit for a short moment in time.
The same will be true in the 2016 Olympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro. Golf will return as an Olympic sport at that time. It will be the first time the sport has been featured as a major Olympic event since 1904, when Canada and the United States were the only countries competing. One side of me says hooray, while the other side says so what! Hooray because golf as an Olympic sport should continue to grow the game and its international appeal. So what, because, at the current pace, there’s a chance we might have little to no Black representation among competitors, and other involvement. Please allow me to explain….
Golf competitors will be chosen based on their ranking from respective professional tours. Currently, Tiger would be in, of course, but no one else, including Black female representation. Will Tiger still be there four years from now? We all hope so, but nobody can say for sure. For females, perhaps Cheyenne (Woods), Shasta (Averyhardt), or Ginger (Howard) will emerge and catapult up the rankings to become part of the team. Perhaps; but 2016 will be here before we know it.
The vote to return golf to the Olympics was made official in the fall of 2009, when the committee approved the sport (along with rugby) to the menu of 2016 competitions.
Rugby, a tremendously popular international sport, was approved with little opposition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Golf, in spite of its terrific television and corporate sponsor appeal, wasn’t as fortunate. Public perception was questioned, as were high costs to participate, accessibility in developing countries, and overall inclusion. In fact, a 2009 ESPN article covering the IOC vote, reported the following from an IOC committee member: “There are some serious problems with some clubs where major events are held, in terms of discrimination,” Further, she urged the IOC to “avoid going down a road that may be harmful to our image.” [Read more on it HERE].
This leads one to wonder will the end result be harmful or beneficial to the image of golf if there is little to no minority representation for the American teams in 2016?
Being part of the Olympics is an unbelievable opportunity, for sure. That alone will do nothing, though, to help the stated barriers in golf related to high costs, accessibility, inclusion, discrimination, and/or image. It also will do nothing to increase the odds of more ethnic representation on the professional teams in 2016, as there are no apparent stars other than Tiger. There might still be enough time to capitalize on the visibility, however, thus helping to alter the current image.
To make a difference, those leading this golf in Olympics endeavor must intentionally identify and include more minority/female vendors, coaches, sport psychologists, architects, advisors, rules officials, journalists, reporters…the list goes on and on. Then, and only then, will the image of the sport begin to lose its current perceptions of elitism and discrimination. Otherwise, the forthcoming exposure might work to cast an embarrassing spotlight on golf in America, for failing to be in step with diversity; thus further damaging the current image of the sport.
Please share your thoughts and opinions with me by contacting me at urbangolf.mc@aol.com, and stay tuned for future blogs.
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ABOUT MICHAEL COOPER, PH.D.
Dr. Michael Cooper is the Director of Southeast Region Affairs for The First Tee. He also teaches Social Change and Leadership at Springfield College – Tampa, FL campus.
