The forthcoming Paris 2024 Olympics are poised to revolutionize the realm of rugby sevens, with HSBC SVNS series general manager Sam Pinder expressing confidence in the event’s potential to significantly elevate the sport. The impending Olympics, scheduled to unfold at the esteemed Stade de France, holds promise in attracting fresh enthusiasts to the abridged version of rugby, with esteemed figures the likes of Antoine Dupont and Ellie Kildunne primed to exhibit their prowess and vie for gold.
Pinder underscored the import of the imminent Olympics, underscoring the substantial opportunities it presents for rugby sevens. He underscored that the sport will take pride in inaugurating the Olympics on the 24th of July, two days before the commencement of the opening ceremony, poised to draw formidable crowds over a span of six days at the Stade de France. Pinder expressed sanguinity in touting this as the most grandiose and paramount sevens event on the global stage, laying the groundwork for the sport’s expansion preceding the 2025 Series.
He further noted that the involvement of luminary athletes such as Dupont has already yielded positive repercussions for the sport. The anticipation of performing in front of a receptive home crowd is anticipated to bolster the growth of rugby sevens, instilling inspiration in individuals from all corners of the globe to take interest in the sport. Pinder accentuated the Olympics as a catalyst in encouraging heightened participation in rugby sevens or 15s, particularly within smaller rugby unions where sevens serves as a pathway for entry into the sport.
Furthermore, Pinder underscored the Olympics’ significance in unveiling fresh prospects for the sport’s proliferation and advancement in diverse nations. He posited that the Olympics’ global outreach possesses the capacity to ignite interest in rugby, ultimately contributing to the sport’s development on an international scale.
Before the spotlight shifts to Paris, the 2023-24 HSBC SVNS is poised to culminate in Madrid, where eight men’s and eight women’s teams will contend for the title of Grand Champion. Pinder foresees an electrifying conclusion to a season that has seen sevens rugby traverse numerous destinations, including Singapore, Vancouver, and Dubai. He underscored that the fusion of riveting on-field action and top-tier entertainment presents the potential to captivate new fans, enabling rugby to penetrate novel markets.
Pinder further underscored the triumph of sevens rugby in drawing supporters from non-traditional rugby strongholds, such as Hong Kong, Dubai, Canada, the USA, and Singapore. He accentuated that the accessibility and entertainment value of sevens rugby have been pivotal in broadening the sport’s appeal and attracting fresh devotees on a global scale.
The Paris Olympics presents a momentous occasion for the sport of rugby sevens to garner exposure and augment its fanbase. As the global sports fraternity eagerly anticipates the advent of the games, the prospective implications for the sport are both auspicious and thrilling.