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| BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL FAIL IN OLYMPIC REINSTATEMENT BID |
Thursday, August 13 -- Golf and Rugby 7s are the sports that the International Olympic Committee's Executive Board recommended today for addition to the 2016 Games programme, leaving baseball and softball without an Olympic future in the short or medium term.
Baseball and softball were being considered along with golf, rugby 7s, squash, karate and roller sports. The IOC Executive's recommendation will need to be ratified by the full International Olympic Committee when it meets in October in Copenhagen.
All seven sports had run extensive campaigns aimed at persuading the IOC that they would enhance the Olympic Games if selected. But it looks like the money, television coverage and star power that golf and rugby bring with them were deciding factors.
Although there are no clear indications about future prospects for sports being added to or deleted from the Olympic Games, most observers expect that there will be little alteration to the basic programme now selected for 2016 over the next few Olympiads, though specific disciplines within some sports may change.
International Baseball Federation Reaction
In a statement issued shortly after the announcement, the International Baseball Federation said, “The IBAF would like to congratulate golf and rugby on their selection today. Both will be welcome additions to the Olympic programme and should add great excitement to whichever city is selected to host the Olympic Games in 2016. We also want to wish nothing but the best to karate, roller sports, softball and squash, who were also not selected today. All of the seven sports under consideration have proven through the selection process that they are worthy of Olympic Games inclusion.
"Today is certainly a disappointing day for the billions of fans and participants around the globe who love the game of baseball, especially for the many young people from emerging countries who are now just learning the game and will not get the opportunity to realise the Olympic dream that so many before them have had. We effectively addressed all the International Olympic Committee’s questions with regard to reinstatement and are confident that we had made the best presentation possible.
"The game of baseball has grown stronger around the world, and overall, baseball is seen and played by more boys and girls and men and women, both disabled and able-bodied, than ever before. Baseball will always emulate the Olympic ideals, and we predict that the IOC will be asking baseball back to the games for 2020, as we will continue to be the best partner for global sport possible."
International Softball Federation Reaction
International Softball Federation President Don Porter said: "The ISF and the wider softball family is certainly disappointed by today's decision.... However, we respect the IOC's decision and I tip my cap to golf and rugby for getting recommended and offer my sentiments to the other four sports that were not successful today.
"The ISF has worked tirelessly for more than four years since we were voted off the 2012 Olympic programme," Don Porter continued, "and we have made tremendous advances in that time. Softball has more players, a long list of member federations, a more solid and appropriate organisational framework and development programmes that are producing phenomenal results on every continent.... For softball, reinstatement to the Olympic Games would have been the catalyst for further sustainable global growth.
"Softball players continue to dream of Olympic gold, the ultimate prize in our sport" Don Porter concluded, "and we will carry on our campaign for Olympic reinstatement to prove to the IOC that our sport fits with Olympic values and ambitions and deserves a place on merit on the Games programme."
British Baseball Reaction
British Baseball Federation Secretary John Walmsley said, "British Baseball is saddened about today's IOC decision not to reinstate baseball to the Olympics. Baseball is a true world team sport, played by over 100 nations on all continents. In Britain we've seen continued improvement in our national team programmes, with the GB Men's Team competing next month in the IBAF Baseball World Cup for effectively the first time.
"British Baseball will continue working to develop and strengthen the sport domestically, especially at youth levels in schools and in universities, as well as within existing baseball clubs. We are working with organisations such as Little League to improve access to the sport for children and we are building durable relationships with the International and European baseball federations. The future bodes well for baseball in Britain, although re-inclusion in the Olympics would have further strengthened that position."
British Softball Reaction
GB Softball General Manager Bob Fromer said, "Softball had real hopes for reinstatement to the Olympics, and the BackSoftball campaign run by the International Softball Federation over the past two years could not have done more to demonstrate the sport's global reach and social importance. But all that has been to no avail, and this is certainly a blow for a sport whose growth around the world over the past 25 years has been based on Olympic revenues and the prestige that comes from being an Olympic sport.
"In Britain, our national teams have achieved fantastic results with little or no funding, and both the GB Women's and Men's Fastpitch teams have qualified for and participated in World Championships. But with no hope of future funding for national teams in a non-Olympic sport, these programmes will inevitably decline and it will be harder to provide incentives for our aspiring young players.
"There is no reason why slowpitch softball cannot continue to grow and prosper in Britain," Bob said, "but fastpitch softball will struggle to survive in the UK and in many other nations around the world, with the exception of countries such as the United States and Japan.
"Softball in its Olympic format is a fantastic women's sport with a spotless drugs record and mass appeal to millions of women and girls around the world, including in areas where women traditionally find it difficult to access team sports. But this was apparently not enough for the IOC."
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