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IOC may consider reinstatement of baseball, softball
If baseball and women's softball are to be a part of the Summer Olympics in 2012, they will have to rally at these Winter Games.
If baseball and women's softball are to be a part of the Summer Olympics in 2012, they will have to rally at these Winter Games.
Seven months after they were voted off the Olympic programme, these sports could get a second chance from the International Olympic Committee when members consider possible reinstatement during their annual session next week on the eve of the Turin Olympics.
"I'm optimistic," International Softball Federation president Don Porter told the Associated Press. "Everyone I've talked to is very supportive at least to come back and give us an opportunity for another shot at it. That's all we're asking for."
The IOC executive board begins two days of meetings today, with reports from Turin organizers on final preparations for the February 10-26 Games. Any reconsideration of baseball and softball's future will come at the three-day IOC general assembly starting Wednesday.
The meeting is essentially the last chance for the sports to make its back in time for the London Games in 2012. They remain on the programme for the 2008 Beijing Games.
"We have done everything we possibly can," said Aldo Notari, head of the International Baseball Federation. "I always had the feeling of being able to get a good result."
Baseball, an Olympic sport since 1992, and softball, which debuted in 1996, were narrowly voted out at the IOC assembly in Singapore in July. They were the first sports removed from the Olympics since polo in 1936.
