On July 8, 2005 just three days before Major League Baseball hosted its Home Run Derby with 12 players from 12 different nations, the Olympic Committe voted to eliminate baseball and softball from the 2012 Olympics.
Among the reasons cited, according to the Associated Press, is “a perceived lack of global appeal and participation.” MLB has been trying to prove baseball as an international sport, so this is indeed a huge slam against baseball.
Sources:
ï AP
When I read this the other week I didn’t doubt it would upset you. There are plenty of Olympic sports that don’t have wide appeal, but the two most populous countries on the planet [I’m guessing, I really don’t know”> love baseball and I think that outta count for something! It’s not like the majority of people would rather watch cricket!
well, i don’t know if it quite upsets me. Because major league baseball never sent their players to the olympics anyways. So it’s not like the sport really got the full impact of the best players. The timing it interesting how the Olympic committee announced this just days before one of baseball’s most premeiere events.
I shouldn’t have jumped to that conclusion. I’m not sure why I wrote that because I read and re-read your post and thought “well, he doesn’t actually say it’s upsetting”. My bad. I thought the Olympics were for amateur athletes. I know that professional sports figures have gone to the Olympics, but they have their own contests, why invade the Olympics? Almost doesn’t seem fair. I still think baseball should be included
oh no. NOW i’m a little disappointed. You are correct, the olympics were orginally for amateur athletes. How soon I forget that. If the spirit of the olympics is rooted in the amateur athlete, they totally shouldn’t elminiate baseball. Who cares if MLB doesn’t send their major league players?
why the hell would they take out softball from the olympics? it has been in the olympics for the longest time
someone from the softball committee probably swore in front of the olympic committee.