August 3 - Antony Scanlon has been recruited as the new executive director of the International Golf Federation (IGF) to oversee the sport's return to the Olympic arena after a 112-year absence, it has been announced.



The Australian has been at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 2004 as head of Olympic Games Coordination, Operations and Services for six years having previously worked for the Organising Committees of the Games at Sydney in 2000, Salt Lake City in 2002 and Athens in 2004. 

He will take up his new role with the IGF, who are comprised of 123 Federations from 118 countries, in November. 

"We are absolutely delighted to have found someone in Antony Scanlon who is eminently qualified to lead golf’s re-introduction as an Olympic sport," said PGA Tour executive Ty Votaw, who coordinated golf’s Olympic bid on behalf of the IGF with The Royal & Ancient's (R&A) Peter Dawson.

"Antony’s extensive background and intimate knowledge of not only working for the International Olympic Committee, but also with various Olympic organising committees, including the Rio Organising Committee for 2016, made him an ideal candidate to assume the responsibilities that go along with preparing golf for the 2016 Games [in Rio de Janeiro]."

It will be golf's first appearance in the Olympics since St Louis since 1904.

Dawson, the joint secretary of the IGF, said: "Antony Scanlon has a wealth of Olympic experience; his skills and contacts will provide the IGF with a strong foundation upon which to build golf as an Olympic sport.

"We are truly fortunate to have found an executive of Antony’s calibre."

Scanlon will be responsible for handling all day-to-day administration of the IGF for Olympic matters, including interfacing with the IOC, Rio 2016, national golf federations, National Olympic Committees and the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations, as well as liaising with the World Anti-Doping Agency on anti-doping matters; involvement in the Rio golf venue selection; organisation of Rio Olympic golf events; working with Youth Olympics and Paralympics; and sponsorship negotiation.

Scanlon, who is an avid golfer and former rugby player and played cricket semi-professionally in Australia, is due to take up his position in November.


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