Softball and Baseball Voted out of 2012 Olympics

In 2005 in Singapore the International Olympic Committee voted baseball and softball out of the 2012 Olympic London Games. The last sport to be voted out the Olympics was polo in 1936. Softball is the first women only sport to be cut. The vote was taken from a secret ballot containing all 28 sports. No other sports were added in place of baseball and softball. Squash and karate are on the waiting list but were rejected after making the first vote. The sports are eligible to reapply for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Softball

Softball was added to the Olympics in 1996. The American Team has won every Olympic gold medal since its addition. In 2000 softball acquired the fourth highest television ratings among women’s events and in 1996 they had the fifth highest. In 1991 there were 73 countries with softball federations. As of 2005, there are 124 countries with a softball federation. The Olympic status has enhanced collegiate programs in the United States. In 1991 there were 580 NCAA women’s softball teams and as of 2005 there were 850 teams. The 1996 games led to the startof the National Pro Fastpitch League in the United States. ESPN conducted a sports poll on whether to remove softball from the Olympics and 67.3% of people disagreed or strongly disagreed.

Baseball

Baseball was added to the Olympics in 1992. Cuba has won the gold in 1992, 1996, and 2004. The American team won the gold in 2000. USA Baseball fields many junior level teams and being removed from the Olympics will lose the program between $800,000 and $1 million dollars annually that is 50% of their budget. Players who play in Major League Baseball were first allowed to participate in 2000 but players on the forty man roster were not permitted to go. Since 1990 the number of national baseball federation countries has increased from 60 to 122. The World Baseball Classic will somewhat take the place of the Olympics, which will include teams from 16 nations. Since it is in the spring major league players will be permitted to play. ESPN’s poll showed that 73.3% of people disagreed or strongly disagreed with the removal of baseball as an Olympic sport.

Reasons for the Out

The president of the IOC cited several reasons for the out vote of baseball and softball. The drug and steroid discrepancies in major leaguers, the cost of softball and baseball sites, the appeal of adding golf and rugby to the list of Olympic sports, and the fact that major leaguers were not allowed to play in the Olympics were all included.

Petitions

Petitions to get softball and baseball reinstated for 2016 are present across the world. Many can be found through internet sites or are being done by the baseball and softball federations themselves.

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