Olympic Chairman Believes R&A Should Accept Women Members
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The outgoing British Olympic Association chairman, Colin Moynihan, has called for the R&A to finally open its membership up to women.
Lord Moynihan, as he is formally known, told BBC Radio 5live “the Royal and Ancient should change.”
The 57-year-old wants to see more equality in golf’s top order in the wake of the success of British women at London 2012.
Moynihan added: “It is remarkable that Augusta has changed, but the Royal and Ancient is still there having not entitled and allowed complete equality of opportunity for women in this country.
“It should be an embedded characteristic of 21st century sport, especially when you see the contribution the athletes make.
“Let’s get real and let’s get on with the job of providing equality of opportunity across sports, sports administration as well as sporting opportunity.”
The R&A has continued to remain male-only, even though Masters’ host Augusta National this year decided to accept female members for the first time.
Moynihan is keen not to see the progress women’s sport made during the Olympics go to waste, after Team GB’s female athletes won 10 gold medals. “This was a Games that was about ‘girl power’,” he said.
The Royal and Ancient was unavailable for comment.
