The Olympic Games were established on the basis that those competing were amateur athletes, not professionals. In the simplest terms, athletes who don’t earn a living off the back of their sporting achievements. The argument that the IOC has had to adapt to a variety of economic, political and technological advancements is all fine and dandy, but these all take away from the centrepiece attraction, the actual sport and competition.
Having athletes who make money off the back of the Olympics is one thing, but what about the IOC specifically allowing sports to take place purely for financial gain? Enter the Olympic golf competition. Damned before it has even begun and one of the biggest PR disasters of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (and there’s been a few PR disasters). Does the IOC love golf? Or does the IOC love money more? The USA loves the Olympics, the USA loves golf, NBC loves golf, and NBC funds the Olympics… Golf was announced as an Olympic sport in 2009 for the first time since 1904. Tiger Woods was playing in 2009 and was, and arguably still is a huge global star. His decline wasn’t anticipated, but no doubt that he’d be pushed as the star of the Olympic golf tournament.
Many of the top stars have withdrawn from the competition, including all of the top 4, citing the threat of the Zika virus. But is this really the case? As damaging as the Zika virus may be, youngsters don’t learn to play golf with an Olympic gold medal in mind. An Olympic medal in golf is not the pinnacle of the sport, golfers play to win green jackets at Augusta or Claret Jugs at The Open, not Olympic medals. If player withdrawals weren’t damning enough, Rory McIlroy’s comments surely were. “I won’t be watching golf at the Olympics because I shall be watching the stuff that matters… I’ll be watching the track and field, the swimming, diving – the stuff that matters.” A glowing condemnation of the Olympic golf tournament, Jordan Spieth did his best to justify his withdrawal, but the knife has been well and truly stuck in.
Another flawed argument for the Olympic golf tournament is the host city and nation of the Olympics. Brazil is not a hotbed for golfing talent and the course had to be constructed purely for the Olympics. Compare this with London 2012 or Tokyo 2020, the UK is the home of golf with hundreds of courses across the country, whilst Japan is a rising force in the golfing world. Golf should have been introduced either four years ago or in four years’ time, not now.
There is certainly a place for golf in the tournament, but should a professional player be deserving of winning a gold medal? No, as shown by the sheer numbers who’ve decided to withdraw. Open it up to amateur golfers and it would be more valid. Amateur golfers wouldn’t have turned down an opportunity to play at the Olympics and potentially secure a professional deal. They’d have found a reason to play, not a reason to be absent.
