Baseball and Softball Axed from 2012 Olympics

**AeroJonesy** · 09-07-2005, 15:53

linky

Originally Posted by cnn.com

Baseball axed from London Olympics

Friday, July 8, 2005; Posted: 8:18 a.m. EDT (12:18 GMT)

SINGAPORE -- London will stage a reduced Olympic Games in 2012 after baseball and softball were wiped from the program in a controversial vote on Friday.

London's showpiece will now feature 26 sports rather than 28.

This came after after International Olympic Committee members rejected proposals to replace the axed sports with two from rugby sevens, golf, squash, karate and roller sports.

Baseball and softball failed to win a majority of votes in a ballot of members at the IOC Session and became the first sports to be cut from the Games since polo in 1936.

IOC members went through seven rounds of voting to decide which two of the five would-be Olympic sports should be put up for a vote to give them Olympic status.

Having selected squash and karate, the members then overwhelmingly rejected their bids to join the Olympic program.

The last Olympics to be staged with just 26 sports was Atlanta in 1996.

Although London will have two less sports than Beijing in 2008, it is expected the IOC will tweak the program of events and boost numbers among the events so the Games will be no smaller than Beijing's.

"It's entirely a matter for the IOC. We're delighted to deliver a Games with 26 sports," said London 2012 communications director Mike Lee.

"There will be some savings through not having temporary venues in Regents Park but it is not a major consideration.

"We will deliver the Games the IOC want."

Lee said Regents Park will now likely be used to stage cultural events during the Games period.

In 2002 the IOC capped the number of sports at an Olympic Games at 28, the number of events at 301 and the number of athletes at 10,500.

At that same session in Mexico City, IOC president Jacques Rogge proposed that baseball, softball and modern pentathlon be dropped, and golf and rugby union added. However, IOC members resisted and no vote was taken.

"This is payback for Mexico City," a visibly shocked softball federation chief Don Porter said after his sport's rejection. "They wanted us out in 2002. It has taken them three years but they have got us.

"We didn't expect this at all. The discussions we have had all week led us to believe we were safe to assume the program would remain unchanged for 2012.

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

Baseball federation president Aldo Notari said: "The problem with baseball is that the best players are not going to the Olympics Games.

"But baseball is still in Beijing. It is still necessary to work for the future in 2016," the Italian added.

Rogge urged the two sports not to lose heart. "Needless to say, these sports will be disappointed," he said. "But this does not disqualify them forever.

"Olympic sports they are in Beijing, and Olympic sports they will remain. As such they will remain eligible for the Olympic program after 2012."

The sports program for 2016 will be voted on after the 2008 Beijing Games.

Once again all Olympics sports -- including softball and baseball who do not lose their status -- will be put to a vote one-by-one.

IOC members were shocked by the ejections. "I am very surprised," German member Thomas Bach said. "I did not expect this."

Australian Olympic Committee chairman John Coates was saddened by the result. "I'm shocked and disappointed. It is very sad to lose two of our member sports.

"Problems with doping in U.S. baseball probably cost the sport dearly. Softball was a bigger shock especially with the push within the IOC to further increase women's participation in the Olympics."

An interesting decision. I guess no more Jennie Finch. :(

**PatMaGroin** · 09-07-2005, 17:28

People act like baseball is just a US thing. Most of the top players in the majors come from Latin America, and Japan has quite a league over there too. But I will agree that there are not enough high quality players playing in the olympics.

In that article, it mentions that the games the IOC wants will be played, and never makes one mention of the fans. I guess the guys in charge forgot that sports are supposed to entertain, both the player and spectator.

**AeroJonesy** · 09-07-2005, 17:43

I think the writer of the article knew someone somewhere would say something about it being anti-US, and you knew that he was going to include it. I wasn't really surprised by the baseball, but the softball decision was a little shocking.

**Ash Housewares** · 09-07-2005, 17:46

Originally Posted by PatMaGroin

In that article, it mentions that the games the IOC wants will be played, and never makes one mention of the fans. I guess the guys in charge forgot that sports are supposed to entertain, both the player and spectator.

the obvious way to respond is to not watch the olympics, not that I was going to anyways, didn't really miss the Sydney games and were there olympics last year? I don't remember, Athens or something?

**PatMaGroin** · 09-07-2005, 18:16

Baseball is about the only thing I would watch as far as the olympics are concerned.

Anyone hear about the World Cup the MLB is trying to put on sometime after this season? Something like 16 teams, everyone representing their home country. They're supposed to announce it the night of the Home Run Derby, which is also broken down to countries. Instead of Al vs NL, they're having some of the top hitters represent their home countries.

**Matt** · 09-07-2005, 20:50

Originally Posted by PatMaGroin

Baseball is about the only thing I would watch as far as the olympics are concerned.

Anyone hear about the World Cup the MLB is trying to put on sometime after this season? Something like 16 teams, everyone representing their home country. They're supposed to announce it the night of the Home Run Derby, which is also broken down to countries. Instead of Al vs NL, they're having some of the top hitters represent their home countries.

Hmm... I had not heard of that, but it sounds intresting. I cant wait to hear more about this

**Rius666** · 09-07-2005, 22:14

I'm also interested in seeing how this Baseball World Cup will turn out. The reason that most of our baseball players don't go to the summer olympics is because it's right in the middle of baseball season and the same will be true for the baseball world cup. We will most likely send the top prospects from the minors, just like we do with the olympics. Not really sure about details on this one.

As for the Home Run Derby change i think this link will help.

**PatMaGroin** · 09-07-2005, 22:20

Actually MLB is putting on the World Cup from what I hear. Meaning it will be after the season, and the players might have a little incentive to play.

EDIT: Just found this on SI.com.

If you don't feel like reading it, it basically says that the IOC will give baseball and softball another chance in 2009, when the two sports can appeal. The article says that one major reason the two sports were cut is because of steroids and major players not competing, which are probably linked, in my opinion. Now that the MLB actually has SOME kind of anti-doping process, more MLB players may play, simply because there is not the risk of steroid connections. If that were true, then it suggests that perhaps baseball's steroid problem was way bigger than MLB cared to admit.

**Dacar92** · 09-07-2005, 22:25

It's too bad they axed baseball and softball. It is also too bad that they allowed professional players to polay. Olympic basketball will never be the same. Sure, the so called "dream team" was good. But the Olympics is supposed to be about amatuer players getting recognized, not about professionals being arrogant or showing off.