There are currently 26 sports in the Olympic Games programme. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) agreed back in 2002 to limit the number of sports to 28, leaving two slots open for inclusion in 2016.
The seven sports federations presented their vision for inclusion to the Games last week, giving details of the overall history of the sports, participation in continental championships, popularity, ticket sales and press coverage. They also outlined the added value which their sports would bring to the Olympic Movement and proposed competitive formats.
"The fact that so many sports want to be on the Olympic programme reflects the global appeal of the Games. It is important to have a well-defined, transparent evaluation process that is fair to all," said Franco Carraro, chairman of the Olympic Programme Commission.
The commission will evaluate the seven sports against 33 criteria which emphasise universality, popularity, the fight against doping and image, among others. Based on the commission's assessment report, due in August, the IOC executive board will recommend two sports for inclusion in the 2016 Games. The final decision will be taken in early October during the Olympic Congress.
"All seven sports made interesting and informative presentations. All have something to offer. In the end, the decision will come down to which are the best fit for the Olympic Programme," said IOC President Jacques Rogge.
Adding new sports to the Games is part of a systemic review of the Olympic programme, begun in 2002, to ensure that the Games remain "exciting and relevant".
