Golf and rugby union sevens will be included in the programme for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, following a vote of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The IOC's executive board had recommended the inclusion of the two sports, which held off competition from five rival bids after an extensive evaluation by the Olympic Programme Commission earlier this year. Golf featured at the 1900 and 1904 Olympic Games in Paris, France, and St Louis, US, respectively, while rugby union has previously been included as part of four Games between 1900 and 1924.

IOC president Jacques Rogge said: "Both golf and rugby are very popular sports with global appeal and a strong ethic. They will be great additions to the Games." The format of the golf event proposed by the International Golf Federation will see 60 men and 60 women play 72 holes of stroke play as part of a eight-day event - four for men and four for women.

Meanwhile, the International Rugby Board has proposed between 2-4 days of rugby union sevens competition, featuring 12 men and 12 women's team split into two pools of six.