Park In-bee's Dream Blocked by Amateur Barrier [Paris Olympics]

Failed in IOC Athletes' Commission Election... Ranked 18th
Golf Lacks Deep Olympic Roots... Mostly Overlooked
Small Korean Delegation and Few Golf Competitors Also Negative Factors

"Golf Empress" Park In-bee lost in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) athlete committee election.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 8th (Korean time), the IOC announced the voting results at the 2024 Paris Olympics Main Press Center (MPC) located at the Palais des Congr?s in Paris, France. Park In-bee received 590 votes, placing 18th.

This was a result of not overcoming the "professional" nature of golf. Park In-bee's recognition and reputation were on par with her competitors due to her achievements on the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour. However, the Olympics still strongly emphasize the competition among the world's top amateur athletes.

In fact, the newly elected athlete committee members all competed in sports that have long held official Olympic status. Alison Felix (USA) in athletics, Kim Bui (Germany) in gymnastics, Jessica Fox (Australia) in canoeing, and Marcus Daniell (New Zealand) in tennis. They ranked 1st to 4th among the twenty-nine candidates.

Golf was reinstated as an official Olympic sport in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics after 116 years. Although many stars competing on the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) Tour and LPGA Tour participate, golf does not have deep roots in the Olympics.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Another disadvantage for Park In-bee was that the number of South Korean athletes participating in this event was the lowest in 48 years (144 athletes). Lee Ki-heung, chairman of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee and an IOC member, expressed concerns before the election, saying, "The total number of golf participants, men and women combined, is only 120," and "This could work unfavorably for Park In-bee in many ways."

Park In-bee is the gold medalist in women's golf at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics but has relatively fewer Olympic appearances. Alison Felix, who received the highest number of votes (2,880) in this election, competed in five Olympics from the 2008 Beijing Games to the 2020 Tokyo Games, winning seven gold medals, three silver medals, and one bronze medal. Kim Bui is a veteran who has participated in three Olympics and eight World Championships, and both Jessica Fox and Marcus Daniell have frequently appeared in the Olympics, gaining recognition.

There is also an interpretation that the fame and recognition Park In-bee gained as a professional did not effectively translate in the amateur world. According to the sports community, former committee member Moon Dae-sung, gold medalist in taekwondo at the 2004 Athens Olympics, was elected to the athlete committee at the 2008 Beijing Olympics thanks to his passionate campaign and the unseen support of Korean taekwondo instructors active worldwide. Similarly, current committee member Yoo Seung-min, whose term is ending, was able to enjoy the joy of election at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics due to his tireless efforts and the widespread global base of table tennis.