Kenyan Olympic chief Kipchoge Keino says he will support the inclusion of rugby sevens in the 2016 Olympics when the vote is taken later this year.

The sevens is one of a number of sports - including squash, baseball, softball, karate, golf and roller sports - vying for two spots alongside 26 existing events in 2016 and a final decision will be made at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting in October.

The double Olympic athletics gold-medallist Keino, a member of the IOC board said the sport in which Kenya reached finals of the Adelaide sevens in Australia earlier this month deserved a place in the Olympics.

"I believe that rugby sevens has a great potential," he told reporters on Thursday. "It is fast, entertaining and the crowds love it. The matches are short and are joyful to watch."

This month's Adelaide leg in which Kenya lost 26-7 to defending champions South Africa was the country's first-ever final in more than 50 IRB Sevens World series appearances.

Kenya also reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in Dubai in March.

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