Why did the Olympics drop softball and baseball?

Question

Was there pressure from countries that do not play these sports? If so, why don't they drop other regional sports such as karate, swimming, ice skating, etc.?

Answer 1

Because the U. S. was too dominant in both sports. Women's softball was one of the more enjoyable sports to watch in the entire Olympics. It ticks-me-of big time not to have that.

Answer 2

Not admitting Baseball and Softball to the programme for 2012, the Session had sent a message that the Games should have sports that are clean and have the best athletes at the Games (in the case of Baseball) and had a universal appeal (in the case of Softball). Rogge reminded the audience that both sports “are eligible for the 2016 Games and we would hope dearly that they will address the issues that we think are important.”

IOC session did not consider baseball and softball for reinstatement into the 2012 Olympic Programme

The 118th IOC Session gathered in Turin decided that a vote on the reinstatement of baseball and softball into the Olympic programme of the 2012 London Olympic Games should not be put on this morning’s session agenda.

This means that the decision taken during the 117th Session in Singapore to have 26 sports on the programme in London stands.

The results of the vote are as follows:

Baseball:
Box given: 95
Participants: 90
Abstentions: 2
Valid Ballots: 88

Majority: 45
NO: 46
YES: 42

Softball:
Box given: 95
Participants: 92
Abstentions: 2
Valid Ballots: 90

Majority: 46
NO: 47
YES: 43

Answer 3

A sport must be played by a minimum number of countries (a different number for summer and winter events) and have enough worldwide popularity to be included in the olympics. Claiming that it's "anti-americanism" is infantile whining.

Baseball (30 countries) is not as widely popular as rugby (90 countries) which is likely to be added along with some more martial arts competitions.

It's the right decision, and I _like_ baseball more than rugby.


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Answer 4

The International Olympic Committee voted Friday to drop baseball and softball from the 2012 Summer Games in London, making those two sports the first cut from the Games in 69 years.

The two sports were kicked out of the Olympics, unwanted by international sports officials who felt they were too American for the world sports stage.

Each of the 28 existing sports was put to a secret vote by the IOC, and baseball and softball failed to receive a majority required to stay on the program. The other 26 sports were retained.

The IOC then voted from a waiting list of five sports: golf, rugby, squash, karate and roller sports. Squash and karate won the ballots, but then were rejected in final confirmation votes.

Baseball and softball, which will remain on the program for the 2008 Beijing Games, are the first sports eliminated from the Games since polo in 1936.The sports,are eligible to reapply for the 2016 Games.

"This really hurts Japan," said Tsutomu Hayashi, the Japan Olympic Committee secretary general. He said the sports "draw a lot of excitement and are the only ones that medals are a virtual certainty."

Aldo Notari, the Italian who is president of the International Baseball Federation, said: "I feel like somebody who has been thrown out. It's certainly not a good feeling."

Baseball, which became a medal sport in 1992, has been vulnerable because players from Major League Baseball in the United States do not play. Softball, a women's medal sport since 1996, has been in danger because of a perceived lack of global appeal and participation. The United States has won all three gold medals handed out.

"Needless to say, these sports are very, very disappointed," Jacques Rogge, the IOC president, said after announcing the result. "However, I have to emphasize the fact that they should not fear this purge. The fact is that they shall not be included in the program of the 2012 Olympic Games, but it does not disqualify them forever as Olympic sports."

Rogge said baseball and softball will be eligible to win back their place in future games.

Notari acknowledged that the absence of major leaguers in the Olympic Games was the crucial factor in the sport's exclusion.

"'The problem with baseball is the best players are not going to the Olympic Games," Notari said. "But baseball is still in Beijing and it is still necessary to work for the future in 2016."

Don Porter of the United States, president of the International Softball Federation, said he was devastated.

"We thought that we had a lot of support," he said. "The members told us we were getting support, but obviously we weren't."

Porter said the decision goes back to 2002, when Rogue tried to remove baseball, softball and modern pentathlon.

"They wanted us out," Porter said. "They didn't get us out - it took them three years, and now they got us out. I just think the IOC wanted some opportunity to introduce several new sports."

Baseball and softball are sports rooted in U.S. tradition.

"I don't want to say it's an anti-U.S. thing, but they are two native American sports," Porter said.

He noted that modern pentathlon, which has been on the program since the first modern games in 1896, had tradition and European support on its side.

"Europe has strong voting power in the IOC," Porter said. "They worked hard, they did the right thing to get enough to stay in."

The IOC will keep the voting figures secret. The secrecy was requested by the international federations in order to avoid any ranking or embarrassment for sports that just barely make the cut.

Dick Pound, a senior IOC member from Canada, harshly criticized the secrecy, saying it undermined the IOC's moves for openness.

Answer 5

it particularly is not "anti-American" it particularly is that we are the only u . s . that particularly performs it, so it particularly is not probable a international interest. The individuals outscored combatants 51-a million in women's softball. traditionally they have additionally pulled polo from the Olympics... simply by fact it particularly is not a international interest, no longer simply by fact of anti-England sentiment. besides the actuality that, baseball is particularly regularly occurring in imperative u . s . of america and Japan. So i might say it particularly is greater appropriate to the fields.

Answer 6

cause its not a international sports, only us and cuba and DR and japan plays it. Baseball is boring anyway, noone want to watch it on tv

Answer 7

The World has no interest in Baseball.
and the Olympic committee will lose money because they woudlnt sell enough tickets.