EveryJoe » Rugby

Baseball Makes its Case for Olympic Reinstatement

Sandy Mitchell — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:41:03 +0000

A team of six, including Baseball Federation president Harvey Schiller and Detroit Tigers center-fielder Curtis Granderson, addressed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Geneva on Friday, hoping for baseball to have a place in the 2016 Games. Two of the IOC concerns were the recent high-profile cases of drug use in Major League Baseball and MLB not allowing the best players to compete in the Games (because of the conflict with the regular baseball season). The baseball contingent vowed to address both issues.

Seven sports are competing for two open slots for the 2016 Games. In addition to baseball, the committee heard presentations from softball, golf, karate, roller sports, rugby, and squash. Softball and baseball were eliminated from the Olympic roster after the Olympic Games.

The IOC Committee will meet next June and offer their recommendations to the full IOC membership, which convenes in October.

Post from: EveryJoe

Baseball Makes its Case for Olympic Reinstatement

Will US Olympic Loss Help Softball?

Sandy Mitchell — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:05:31 +0000

Just a day after Japan defeated the United States in softball, the International Softball Committee is planning their lobby to get the sport reinstated as an Olympic event. Softball was voted out of the Olympics by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and won’t be a part of the London Games in 2012. One of the reasons cited was that one country–the United States–dominated the sport. Now a case can be made for competition in the sport.

The International Softball Committee is working to keep international softball visible. The are hosting a Youth World Cup tournament somewhere in Europe in August of 2009, just two months before the IOC decides the fate of Olympic softball.

Softball has stiff competition. Among the other sports seeking inclusion in the Olympics are golf, karate, rugby, squash, and roller sports.

Post from: EveryJoe

Will US Olympic Loss Help Softball?

Top Athletes of Australia

Sasha Manuel — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 19:43:32 +0000

… in Paul Johnson’s list.

The Australia’s Top 101 athletes list that was published on Alpha magazine pushed him to mull it over and come up with his own. But instead of listing 101 of them, he picked the top 25 that he thinks is notable.