As part of the International Golf Federation’s efforts to get the sport included in the 2016 Games, the players are sending a customised brochure detailing the bid and a personal letter of support to International Olympic Committee members from their respective countries.
In addition, Jack Nicklaus and Annika Sorenstam - global ambassadors for the campaign - have sent the same documents to IOC representatives from 75 other countries.
“As we have consistently stated from the outset of the bid process, it is imperative that the best players in the world support golf’s Olympic effort in order to give us the best chance of being selected by the IOC to participate in the 2016 Olympic Games,” said Peter Dawson, chief executive of the R&A and joint secretary of the IGF.
“This personal outreach by international players is a continuation of that effort.”
Golf is one of seven sports being considered for inclusion. The others are baseball, karate, roller sports, rugby sevens, softball and squash.
The IOC’s final vote on whether to add no more than two sports will take place at the 121st IOC session, scheduled for October 2009 in Copenhagen.
The host for the 2016 Games also will be determined at that time with Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo the contenders.
The players who are sending this material to their respective IOC representatives are: Karrie Webb (Aus); Mike Weir (Can); Camilo Villegas (Col); Vijay Singh (Fij); Gwladys Nocera (Fra); Bernhard Langer (Ger); Colin Montgomerie (Gbr); Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind); Padraig Harrington (Irl); Ai Miyazato (Jpn); KJ Choi (Kor); Lorena Ochoa (Mex); Suzann Pettersen (Nor); Ernie Els (Rsa); Sergio Garcia (Spa); Annika Sorenstam (Swe); Yani Tseng (Tpe); Tiger Woods (USA).
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