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Following the recent addition of sevens to the Olympic programme in 2016, an overwhelming 85 per cent of readers in Eurosport-Yahoo! poll backed the IOC's decision.

We asked whether it was a good thing for the abbreviated version of rugby to become an Olympic sport and 1,265 of the 1,495 readers who voted said yes it was.

A number of factors are likely to have influenced the voting, not least the additional funding that is likely to come the way of sevens from national Olympic federations, and the increased exposure it will receive from being part of the Games.

No doubt many think the high-scoring, high-tempo nature of sevens will genuinely enhance the Olympics, and then there is the fact it fits nicely into a programme for the Olympic stadium ahead of the athletics starting.

But what about the 229 readers who voted against its inclusion, what were their reasons?

Perhaps they think sevens does not fit the bill of a traditional Olympic sport, or perhaps with the IRB World Series and Sevens World Cup they believe the sport has no need for the Games.

Maybe they don't trust the IOC to add value to sevens, and what about rugby's governance: with a small number of national federations dominating the IRB, does this not fly in the face of the Olympics' democratic ideals?

The reaction from federations and rugby stars worldwide, as well as the sport's stakeholders, certainly suggest overwhelming backing for the IOC's decision as does our poll.

Poll results

Should sevens be included in the Olympic Games?

Yes: 85% (1,265 votes)

No: 15% (229 votes)

Total: 1,494 votes

Should sevens be part of the Olympics? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport