RandA Should End Women Ban - Moynihan

Outgoing British Olympic Association chairman Lord Moynihan has called on the Royal and Ancient Golf Club to open up its membership to women.

The golf club, which is based at St Andrews in Fife, refuses to admit any female members.

In the wake of the success of British women at the Olympics, Moynihan believes this is unacceptable and wants the club to change its rules.

He told BBC Radio 5 live: "To me, the Royal and Ancient should change."

The Royal and Ancient has continued to remain men-only although Augusta National, one of the most famous clubs in the United States which hosts the Masters each year,decided to accept women members for the first time in its 80-year history in August.

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."

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.

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Lord Coe Named BOA Chief

London 2012 chief Lord Coe has been elected as chairman of the British Olympic Association.

He was elected unopposed after the withdrawal of the only other candidate, British hockey boss Richard Leman.

Coe, a 1500m Olympic gold medallist in 1980 and 1984, led London's successful bid for the 2012 Olympics and was subsequently made chairman of the Games organiser Locog.

The 56-year-old succeeds Lord Moynihan as head of the BOA on a four-year term.

Coe's brief will be to help Team GB build on the success of London 2012, where it produced the best results at a summer Olympic Games for more than a century, winning 65 medals.

"I do consider this a huge honour because this is an organisation that defined a large part of my adult life," said Coe.

"You cannot join an organisation like the British Olympic Association without recognising the extraordinary history. The history of the BOA is the history of British sport.

"It is a large part of the history of the Olympic movement. In 1908 and 1948 we didn't just deliver a Games but set a tone and a style for the movement for many decades to come."

Coe admitted he was disappointed when the BOA's lifetime ban for doping was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in May.

"My stance is still non-negotiable. You know from everything I have done that I will chair an organisation which will take a zero tolerance approach to drugs in sport," he said.

"99% of the athletes supported that bylaw and I am sorry that we weren't able to uphold it. We will need to think how we will adapt to that landscape.

"We have to recognise that we are in a much more complex and complicated world than we were 30 years ago."

As legacy ambassador, Coe has also been asked to advise Prime Minister David Cameron on how to best secure long-term benefits for the UK following the London Games.

"Seb Coe demonstrated inspirational leadership in delivering the best ever Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer and as a double Olympic gold medallist himself there can be no better choice for BOA chairman," said Cameron.

"He fully understands the support that athletes and sports governing bodies need in this country.

"Combined with his role as the Government's legacy ambassador, Seb will play a crucial part in maximising the benefits from London 2012, helping our athletes achieve gold in Rio and British businesses win new trade and investment deals."

Coe's election was welcomed by national sport funding body UK Sport.

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Woodward Future Role in BOA Doubted

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Sir Clive Woodward's future as the British Olympic Association's director of sport emerged asa a doubt after British Olympic Association [BOA] chief executive Andy Hunt presented a restructuring programme to the organisation's board that will see a cut in the number of top staff.

Woodward, the former England rugby manager who has been Team GB's deputy leader for the last two summer Olympics, will meet Hunt within the next 10 days to discuss the future.

There are currently eight directors in all at the BOA and under the restructuring programme it is expected a number of the posts will be merged. 

All eight directors will meet individually with Hunt over the next week and a half for talks over the restructuring.

The BOA are facing a financial deficit after a significant expansion in costs and staff numbers ahead of the London Olympics and need to cut their expenditure.

Hunt's proposals were accepted by the board at a meeting this afternoon and should be in place by January.

The decision has been taken ahead of the election of the new BOA chairman on November 7 where London 2012 chairman Lord Coe is the overwhelming favourite to succeed Lord Moynihan.

The meeting between Hunt and Woodward is likely to take place in Brazil - the pair are flying out on Friday on a four-day trip to start the search for a training base for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Woodward, who was brought in to the BOA by Moynihan in 2006, stated last month that he had 'every intention' of staying at the organisation in the run-up to 2016.

The man who led England to Rugby World Cup glory in 2003 has been linked with a return to his original sport and would not be short of offers.

He has already agreed to chair an independent review of the British Judo Association's elite performance programme.

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Lord Coe Seeks BOA Post

Sebastian Coe has confirmed he will stand to be the next chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA).

Lord Coe, the London 2012 chairman, said he had been approached to stand as the successor to Colin Moynihan.

A BOA committee is drawing up a list of candidates to replace Lord Moynihan, who announced last month he would be stepping down after seven years.

Lord Coe, who was recently made the UK's Olympics legacy ambassador, said: "I am happy for my name go to forward."

The 55-year-old, a 1500 metres Olympic gold medallist in 1980 and 1984, led London's successful bid for the 2012 Olympics and was subsequently made chairman of Games organiser Locog.

As legacy ambassador, he has been asked to advise Prime Minister David Cameron on how to best secure long-term benefits for the UK following the London Games.

Mr Cameron said Lord Coe had "done a brilliant job delivering the best Games ever", adding: "Now I want him to help me deliver the best Olympic legacy ever."

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Chairman Moynihan Leaves BOA

Lord Moynihan is stepping down as chairman of the British Olympic Association.

Moynihan, who has helped steer Team GB to 29 golds and third place in the medal table at the London 2012 Olympics, has written to the BOA executive board, the National Olympic Committee and the BOA advisory board to confirm his decision.

He intends to stay on as chairman until an election is held in November to find a successor.

A BOA spokesman revealed: "Lord Moynihan has decided that he is going to step down as chairman of the BOA once a successor is elected to the position later this year."

He revealed that his priorities include a smooth handover to his successor and ensuring there is a strong sports policy so the momentum from the Games is not lost.

In his letter, Lord Moynihan wrote: "Firstly, I want to congratulate you all on a magnificent Olympic Games and to thank you for all that you have done to ensure their success.

"The last two weeks have united and inspired the whole country and have surpassed all expectations.

"I am enormously proud to be able to say that with your help, Team GB has not only succeeded at London 2012, it has excelled.

"The years of hard work and preparation undertaken by everyone at the BOA have paid historic dividends through the delivery of so many outstanding personal bests by our athletes.

"After their incredible performances, securing an historic third place for Team GB in the medal table, the 541 athletes of Team GB truly deserve to be called our 'greatest team ever'.

"The Prime Minister's announcement that funding for our Olympic athletes is now guaranteed for the next four years in the run-up to Rio represents the successful culmination of our campaign for secured lottery funding.

"It means that our athletes' success in Beijing 2008, now built on and furthered during London 2012, can be carried forward with renewed confidence in Rio 2016.

"As a result of the success of Team GB, the reputation of the BOA, its staff and volunteers is rightly at an all-time high. We now have a unique opportunity to capitalise on this success and to build a stronger and even more victorious team in the future.

"Over the last seven years, the BOA has striven to become a modern, accountable, performance-driven, highly professional, athlete-centric organisation, of which we can all be extremely proud. On a year-by year basis, the athletes have been increasingly supportive of the backing they have received from the BOA performance teams in the Olympic villages and at the venues.

"Put simply: this was a job outstandingly well done by everyone who works at the BOA, the governing bodies and the volunteers who joined the BOA team in the run-up to the Games and I am exceptionally grateful to you all."