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TARGETED INVESTMENTS 2016In the lead-up to Rio 2016, World Rugby targeted investment in sevens to optimise rugby’s participation in the Olympic Games, which included an ongoing focus on strengthening and empowering its regions.W orld Rugby’s investment in rugby operations is targeted to underpin major events, which sit atop the competitions pathways in sevens and 15s for men and women, and to support key investment partners in our membership. In 2016, the Olympic Games project and the six regional associations were more heavily invested in, while close working relationships were forged to guide expenditure of the investment.INVESTMENT IN SEVENS The long road to RioThe Olympic Games were the single biggest event on the 2016 calendar focusing World Rugby’s attention and investment. However, increased investment to underpin their success was planned for as early as 2009 (when rugby’s re-entry to the Games was confirmed by the IOC) and began implementation in 2012, when the first new competitions commenced. The chart below details the total investment in sevens activities for the five-year period 2012-16.Sevens competitions pathwaysOur main objective since 2009 has been to ensure that relevant regional and international sevens competition pathways are in place for our member unions, to improve the competitiveness of their national teams and to provide the focal point for them to develop national pathways in their own territories. With the Olympic Games at the summit of the pathways, we have invested a total of £34.5m over five years in developing and enhancing the quadrennial RWC Sevens, the annual HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series for men and women, regional competitions and series including age-grade tournaments and, of course, the Olympic Games qualification tournaments.Sevens game investmentsIn addition to competitions, we have made sevens game investments in development and high performance, created sevens-specific training and education resources, increased anti-doping investment and invested in Olympic-specific activities, all totalling £3.5m.£38m Investment in Sevens 2012-16HSBC World Rugby Sevens SeriesRegional competitionsOther competitions including Rio 2016 qualificationOlympic operations, communications and administration Other investment including anti-doping4.92.027.21.52.5100 WORLD RUGBY YEAR IN REVIEW 2016FINANCING | TARGETED INVESTMENTS