Bernard Lapasset, International Rugby Board (IRB) Chairman:
- “This is truly an historic day for rugby and the development of the game. It is wonderful to be part of the Olympic family, and this will also help in our efforts to allow as many people in as many countries as possible to play sevens, and play rugby.
- “The Olympic Games is the unique international sporting reference in the world and we are very proud to be on the Olympic programme in both 2016 and 2020. Of course, we now start to focus on 2016.
- “I’d like to thank the team in Rio that will host the Games, for us and for everyone involved in the game, it’s going to be a wonderful opportunity.
- “I would like to thank all of our team. We’ve been a tight family, well advised and supported, and we have really achieved something great, like a rugby team, by working together to achieve our goal.”
Mike Miller, IRB Secretary General:
- “It’s a mixture of massive relief, joy and excitement as we look forward now to playing a full part in the Olympic programme in 2016.
- “We’re very pleased and proud that the IOC members have decided to include us for two Olympic Games. We are confindent that a sevens tournament in Rio will be a huge success, and so we’re confident about any review that might take place in 2017.
- “Rugby and Rio are made for each other. Rugby sevens events are a huge festival, great sport and a great time, and I think that’s what the Olympic Games will be all about in Rio.”
Jonah Lomu, All Black and NZL Sevens legend:
- “I’m joyous, ecstatic – even though I won’t be there to compete for my country in 2016, it’s great to see that the future of rugby is going to be in great hands going forward, and on the biggest stage it can possibly be.
- “And for the sport’s best women competitors to be there too, raising the level of their game to new heights, just adds to the universal appeal that rugby and Sevens can bring.
- “Rio and sevens are just going to go hand in hand and it’s only going to get better. If you are looking for enjoymemt you’ll get it at the sevens. You’ll get good, fast entertaining games and also you can enjoy the crowd, because sevens people love to enjoy themselves.”
