Softball and baseball, both will be added for voting by the assembly of the International Olympics Committee in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in August 2016, the night just before the opening of the Summer Olympic games in Rio. The vote is a result of the application of the World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC). The members of the Confederation are hoping both sports will be included in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo (Japan).
To continue with, the vice president of the IOC – John Coates confirmed that softball and baseball are a part of a multi-sport pack, which has already been approved for voting. It’s interesting that the other sports, which can find place in the Olympic games in 2020, are karate, skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing.
For those who don’t remember, baseball was included for the first time in the summer Olympics in 1992, while softball became a part of the biggest sports event 4 years later – in 1996. The last time both sports were played at the Olympics was in Beijing 2008.
There is also the option that only one of the sports – baseball or softball to be included in the Olympics. However, do you think skateboarding is more competitive than these two sports?
There have been 4 softball Olympic competitions, and the US team has recorded 3 golden medals, but they were denied by the Japanese, who won the Olympics golden medals during the last softball tournament at the Olympics in 2008.
The decision whether we are going to watch baseball and softball in the program of the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020 is going to be taken in August. This is going to happen during the annual session (number 129) of the International Olympic Committee, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro.
“This is will be a very good addition to the Olympics, if approved. There is a very good balance between the offered sports, which are also very popular in Japan. The new sports, such as sports climbing, skateboarding and surfing are very interesting for the young people in Tokyo,” said the vice president of the IOC – John Coates.
Yoshiro Mori, who is the head of the organizing committee of the Olympics in 2020, is also very enthusiastic about the inclusion of these sports. He is absolutely sure that the offered sports will be really interesting for the fans of the Olympic games.
In conclusion, we have to say that, if all of these sports are to be approved by the Committee, more than 470 athletes will be involved in the competition.