Olympics

Rio 2016 delays picking golf course designer

Share This Story

Updated Feb 3, 2012 11:34 AM ET
     
 

SAO PAULO (AP)

The designer of the Olympic golf course for the 2016 Summer Games won't be announced until March.

The winner had been scheduled to be selected Friday after the eight bidders spent two days this week in Rio de Janeiro making final presentations.

This will be the first Olympic course in more than 100 years. Golf is returning to the games for the first time since being dropped following the 1904 St. Louis Olympics.

Organizers said in a statement they were ''extremely pleased with the high quality'' of the proposals, but the winner won't be made public until the International Olympic Committee visits Rio in March.

The eight finalists are Gary Player Design, Greg Norman Golf Course Design, Hanse Golf Design, Hawtree Ltd., Nicklaus Design, Renaissance Golf, Robert Trent Jones II and Thomson-Perret Golf Course Architects.

Nicklaus is teaming with Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam on his project, while Norman has a partnership with retired Mexican golfer Lorena Ochoa.

The selection committee is composed of Rio 2016 Olympic committee President Carlos Nuzman, International Golf Federation President Peter Dawson and other local representatives.

The deadline for proposals was extended last year because none of the bidders initially had the proper legal and financial documentation. The winner's announcement was originally scheduled for December.

Applicants must have prior course design experience, with international companies required to have an established office in Rio. The Rio committee said the course must leave a legacy for the city and be ready to host test events by 2015.

Golf made its debut at the second modern Olympics in Paris in 1900, but lasted only one more games. It was reinstated in 2009 and has a spot guaranteed in the 2020 Olympics, but a good impression in Rio will be critical in keeping the sport in the games beyond that. Another IOC vote on adding or deleting sports is scheduled for 2017.

The Rio golf course will be in the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood, which will hold most of the Olympic venues. The course is expected to be about 3 miles from the athletes' village.

---

Follow Tales Azzoni at http://twitter.com/tazzoni

Related Stories

Member Comments

Please note by clicking on "add a comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.

ADD A COMMENT
    PREV PREV   NEXT NEXT    
ADD A COMMENT
    PREV PREV   NEXT NEXT    

Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    USA Swimming Ladies White Old Flag Burnout Long Sleeve T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_USA_Swimming/browse/featuredproduct/485947/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_485000/FF_485947_xl.jpg&w=100 23.95 USA Swimming Ladies White Old Flag Burnout Long Sleeve T-shirt
    Speedo USA Swimming Ladies White Tail Sweep Full Zip Hoody Sweatshirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_USA_Swimming/browse/featuredproduct/486387/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_486000/FF_486387_xl.jpg&w=100 48.95 Speedo USA Swimming Ladies White Tail Sweep Full Zip Hoody Sweatshirt
    Nike USA Olympic Team Navy Blue Classic Full Zip Hoodie Sweatshirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_USA/browse/featuredproduct/536524/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_536000/ff_536524_xl.jpg&w=100 50.95 Nike USA Olympic Team Navy Blue Classic Full Zip Hoodie Sweatshirt
    USA Swimming White Dive T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_USA_Swimming/browse/featuredproduct/616903/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_616000/ff_616903_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 USA Swimming White Dive T-shirt
    USA Swimming Navy Blue Splash T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_USA_Swimming/browse/featuredproduct/616928/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_616000/ff_616928_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 USA Swimming Navy Blue Splash T-shirt
    USA Swimming Ladies White Dive Slim Fit T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_USA_Swimming/browse/featuredproduct/616940/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_616000/ff_616940_xl.jpg&w=100 18.95 USA Swimming Ladies White Dive Slim Fit T-shirt
    USA Swimming Ladies Navy Blue Splash Slim Fit T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_USA_Swimming/browse/featuredproduct/616959/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_616000/ff_616959_xl.jpg&w=100 18.95 USA Swimming Ladies Navy Blue Splash Slim Fit T-shirt
    USA Swimming Light Blue Swimmer T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_USA_Swimming/browse/featuredproduct/616971/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_616000/ff_616971_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 USA Swimming Light Blue Swimmer T-shirt
    Team USA 2012 Winter Olympic Games Innsbruck T-Shirt - Navy Blue http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_USA/browse/featuredproduct/685844/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_685000/ff_685844_xl.jpg&w=100 22.95 Team USA 2012 Winter Olympic Games Innsbruck T-Shirt - Navy Blue
    USA Curling Dare T-Shirt - Ash http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_USA_Curling/browse/featuredproduct/697577/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_697000/ff_697577_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 USA Curling Dare T-Shirt - Ash
Microsoft© 2012 Microsoft