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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Padraig Harrington was a strong voice in golfs bid to become an Olympic sport for the first time in more than a century.And then golfs image took a hit as players began dropping out, and the Irishman went quiet.He desperately wanted golf to succeed, and that meant unified support from the top players. But as they began pulling out -- particularly Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland -- it became personal. Without players withdrawing, he wouldnt have a chance to play.I was wearing two hats when it came to this, Harrington said. Obviously, I want golf to be a success in the Olympics, but I clearly wanted to go. So I wasnt jumping up and down saying, `Guys, you should all go. I was staying out of it. Because it is a dream of mine.It becomes a reality when Harrington arrives in Rio de Janeiro on Monday and the draw is announced for the 72-hole competition that starts Thursday and concludes with the first medals awarded since 1904 in St. Louis.Golf began its bid process in April 2008, about the time Harrington soared to his greatest heights. He repeated as British Open champion that year, and then won the PGA Championship to become the first European to win back-to-back majors in the modern lineup of Grand Slam events.Harrington joined the biggest names in golf -- Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Annika Sorenstam -- in a strong pitch to the IOC to put golf back in the program. But when the Rio Games rolled around, Harrington was nowhere close to qualifying because of three Irish golfers well ahead of him in the world ranking.And then McIlroy pulled out, citing the Zika virus. Graeme McDowell withdrew because his wife is due with their second child and he didnt want to be out of the country. Shane Lowry also withdrew. And now Harrington, the most famous of all Irish golfers, is headed to the Olympics.He hasnt even met the other Irish qualifier, Seamus Powers, who plays on the Web.com Tour. But he is thrilled to have him as a teammate.Id be hoping that the two of us have a chance coming down the last nine holes, Harrington said.Why are the Olympics so important? Why would a three-time major champion care more about gold than the silver claret jug or Wanamaker Trophy?That dates to his teenage years, when Harrington was starting to blossom in golf and was invited to three or four banquets each winter that honor the best sporting achievements in Ireland and feature the heroes of Irish sport over the years.Every sports awards I went to from 15 years of age, the first man they called out was a guy named Ronnie Delany, who won the 1,500 gold medal in 1956, he said. Every sports award. Thats how big a deal it is. I sat there and looked up and this guy ... who is this guy? Its a huge deal in Ireland.Harrington can recite the Irish history in the Olympics, from Delanys gold medal in Melbourne to Pat OCallaghans two golds in boxing in 1928 and 1932, Bob Tisdall in the 1932 Olympics for the 400-meter hurdles, even Jack Butler Yeats winning a silver in mixed painting, when art competitions were part of the games.So yes, its a huge deal.He even chose to sacrifice his standing on the PGA Tour. Harrington played the Travelers Championship in Connecticut last week, failing in his bid to move into the top 125 in the FedEx Cup. There are two events remaining, but hell be in Rio -- playing one week, watching the next.I normally come back and would play, but I think so much of the Olympics, Im going to take a weeks holiday and go to a number of events, Harrington said. Its an opportunity of a lifetime to really have a great weeks holiday the second week. The first week will be all business but hopefully the second week well have a good week.On his agenda are table tennis, gymnastics, diving, cycling, boxing.Im sure Im missing out on one or two, he said. This is all the second week. So Im trying to do two things a day the second week. Im really keen on it. Its really great fun watching all those sports. The Olympics ... the pain of losing is exceptional, the joy of winning, its right there on the line. So Id watch anything in those circumstances and obviously, the Olympics is the pinnacle of it all.He felt that way when he lobbied hard for golf to be part of it. And now he gets to take part of it himself.To listen to him, this is pure joy.Nike Vapormax Plus Rebajas . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. Vapormax 2019 Baratas . They had already blown a double-digit lead, fans were hitting the exits, and a long seven-game road trip waited at the end. http://www.vapormaxbaratas.com/ . Perhaps Carroll was so prepared for a break because he believes there is very little the Seattle Seahawks need heading into the off-season. "I dont see anything that we need to add. We just have to get better," Carroll said. Nike Air Vapormax Flyknit 2 Rebajas . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Vapormax España . The 17-year-old native of Marystown, N.L., pulled out of Skate Canada International last month in Saint John, N.B., with the same problem.Bolton chairman Ken Anderson has revealed the interview process for a new manager has started as the club prepares for life in Sky Bet League One.Jimmy Phillips has been in interim charge since Neil Lennon left the club last month, but Boltons relegation from the Championship was confirmed by Saturdays 4-1 defeat at Derby.Bolton are now facing life in the third tier of English football for the first time since 1993 after a season of turmoil at the Macron Stadium.The Trotters faced a winding-up order from HMRC over unpaid taxes, changed ownership and are currently working under a Football League transfer embargo.Bolton have won only four league games all season but Anderson has urged supporters to stick together with the club now under the ownership of the Sports Shield group.Its now time to look forward, not back, Anderson said in a statement on the official Bolton website.Whilst this continues to be an extremely challenging and difficult time for us all, it is imperative that we stick together and believe that we will come out the other side a better and stronger football club.Bolton Wanderers have a fantastic history and a loyal fan base. We very much have to look to put any past differences behind us, embrace everything that we have going for us and move forward together.I understand that words can only mean so much at this moment in time and that we, the new board, will ultimately be judged on our actions.Were not shying away from that fact and we accept thhat there are going to be a lot of difficult decisions to make, both on and off the pitch, as we prepare for life in the third tier.ddddddddddddOne of the pressing issues for the new board is to find a new manager and Anderson said over 50 applications for the vacancy have been reduced to single numbers.I personally have already had a high level of applicants for the job, said Anderson.We have had over 50 applications, which shows just in how much high regard our club is held.That list has been whittled down to single figures and our process of interviewing the candidates is already well under way.We want to hit the ground running next season, which is why we are getting these building blocks in place.We want to roll our sleeves up and be positive right from the off, play an attractive style of football and really take the game to our opponents.Were working tirelessly to try and get the transfer embargo lifted - that is obviously paramount in our planning.We also have a number of key relationships and agreements in place with teams in the top flight with an eye on what we can possibly do in the loan market.This is a fresh start for us all. Weve been working on this plan for some time - were now in the process of putting it into action.There is a lot of hard work ahead and we have to be on this journey together.Also See:Bolton videoBolton fixturesBolton stats ' ' '