Ice hockey, sand volleyball, softball, equestrian sports, and women's rugby also have seen a surge in the number of collegiate teams recently.

WSJ: Competing for Scholarships on the Field and Online

"We've got the contingency of extra days available to us in rowing and in equestrian sports, as a last resort of course, " Coe added.

CNN: British weather posing Olympics challenge, admits Coe

There are more than 30 venues in Beijing to uncover, as well as sailing in Qingdao on China's north-east coast, and equestrian sports in Hong Kong, to the south.

BBC: Yellow sport icons indicate venues

Others wondered how sports like equestrian and disciplines like race walking and rhythmic gymnastics survived.

CNN: Wrestling may be cut from Olympic Games

This year Arwa Mutabagani was the first Saudi woman to be appointed as a top sports administrator, at the Equestrian Federation.

BBC: Saudi women vie for Olympic rights