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 …read more

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 …read more

18 January 2008 – This past weekend the International Coaching College for Africa/Europe wrapped up in Tirrenia, Italy. A total of 36 coaches from eleven countries were on-hand for the five-day session.
Combined with the ICC for the Americas held last month at the ISF’s world headquarters in Plant City, Florida, and the course done in late August in Australia for Asia/Oceania, approximately 150 coaches from 35 countries benefited from the advanced instruction provided by top-level coaches as part of the ISF’s program done in partnership with the U.S.-based National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Beijing, China—It took only five innings for the USA Softball Women’s National Team to record its 100th win in World Championship play as they defeated Great Britain, 7-0, to remain unbeaten. The U.S. recorded its first win on Feb. 14, 1965, in Melbourne, Australia with a 1-0 win over New Zealand who happens to be the next opponent for the U.S. in this World Championship.
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The World Softball Championship is one of the organised sporting events [the other's the Regatta] held in Beijing to test the organising elements for the upcoming Summer Olympics in 2008.
I guess both China and …read more

In the upcoming Summer Olympics, we can expect the following disciplines:

Aquatics
Archery
Athletics
Badminton
Baseball
Basketball
Boxing
Canoe / kayak
Cycling
Equestrian
Fencing
Football
Gymnastics
Handball
Hockey
Judo
Modern Pentathlon
Rowing
Sailing
Shooting
Softball
Table Tennis
Taekwondo
Tennis
Triathlon
Volleyball
Weightlifting
Wrestling

Was this an anti-American move brought on by the European dominated International Olympic Committee? That cannot be proven, but the fact remains that Softball and Baseball will be dropped from the Olympic program starting in London in 2012.
Whatever the reason, there were a number of vocal statements made:
“I think anti-Americanism was a factor,” International Softball Federation president Don Porter said.
“I am shocked and deeply disappointed,” said Dot Richardson, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in softball. “It’s a shame that politics between nations will affect in a negative way the future dreams of young girls and young women.”
“It’s very disappointing, …read more