The success of the World Cup Sevens is reason enough for the sport to be included in the Olympic Games from 2016, according to Humphrey Kayange.
The Kenya rugby sevens captain was part of a six-person International Rugby Board (IRB) delegation that met with the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) executive board in Switzerland yesterday.
"The IRB World Cup Sevens in Dubai showed that the so-called smaller sporting nations can compete with the biggest in the world," Kayange said. "Countries like Zimbabwe, Samoa, Tonga and Uruguay proved they are capable of beating the best.
"Playing at an Olympic Games would offer these countries a real chance of medals and a further opportunity to be part of the global sporting family."
The IRB secretary general Mike Miller said rugby sevens would complement the Olympic sports. "The sevens format - seven players per team, two seven-minute halves, 24 matches a day - is made for television, made for sponsors and most importantly loved by fans and players alike," Miller added.
Rugby was played in the 1900, 1908, 1920 and 1924 Games. It is one of seven sports being considered for inclusion, with a vote scheduled for October.
lthornhill@thenational.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Klipit
Started: 2022
Founders: Venkat Reddy, Mohammed Al Bulooki, Bilal Merchant, Asif Ahmed, Ovais Merchant
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Digital receipts, finance, blockchain
Funding: $4 million
Investors: Privately/self-funded
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
12 restaurants opening at the hotel this month
Ariana’s Persian Kitchen
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
Estiatorio Milos
House of Desserts
Jaleo by Jose Andres
La Mar
Ling Ling
Little Venice Cake Company
Malibu 90265
Nobu by the Beach
Resonance by Heston Blumenthal
The Royal Tearoom
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
EMIRATES'S REVISED A350 DEPLOYMENT SCHEDULE
Edinburgh: November 4 (unchanged)
Bahrain: November 15 (from September 15); second daily service from January 1
Kuwait: November 15 (from September 16)
Mumbai: January 1 (from October 27)
Ahmedabad: January 1 (from October 27)
Colombo: January 2 (from January 1)
Muscat: March 1 (from December 1)
Lyon: March 1 (from December 1)
Bologna: March 1 (from December 1)
Source: Emirates
Pathaan
Director: Siddharth Anand
Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham
Rating: 3/5