Cuts from 2012 Olympics - Baseball no longer a sport

[The Mackem]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=629 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Fewer sports for London Olympics



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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IBOX -->The 2012 London Olympics will have only 26 sports after baseball and softball were axed from the programme on Friday.


They are the first sports to be cut from the Olympics in 69 years - and have not been replaced.

The news means Regents Park, which was due to host both sports, will no longer be a venue for the 2012 Games, although it could be used for "cultural events".

Rugby union sevens, squash, golf, karate and roller skating were all bidding to become part of the Games.

International Olympic Committee members went through seven rounds of voting to decide which two of the five sports should be put up for a vote to give them Olympic status.

Squash and karate were selected, before members overwhelmingly rejected their bids to join the Olympic programme.

International Olympic Committee members held a secret ballot to decide which sports to axe from the existing list of 28 ahead of the London Games in 2012.

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Mike Lee
2012 spokesman


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Baseball and softball, which will remain on the Olympic programme for 2008, failed to get enough votes.

They are the first sports to be cut from the Olympics since polo in 1936.

The decision to exclude baseball and softball should save London at least £50m, as well as meaning Regents Park will not be used as a venue.

"Regents Park will cease to be an Olympic venue but it could be used to help stage our cultural celebrations during the Games," 2012 spokesman Mike Lee said.

He added: "We are delighted to be delivering the Olympic and Paralympic Games, whatever the size of the programme."

"This is a matter for the IOC and we will deliver whatever range of sports they decide."

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Baseball made its first appearance in the 1992 Games, although it was only in 2000 that professional players were allowed to take part.

Softball was introduced in Atlanta in 1996 and has been dominated by the United States, who have won all three gold medals to be contested.

IOC president Jacques Rogge said baseball and softball could win back their place for future games. "Needless to say, these sports are very, very disappointed, but it does not disqualify them forever as Olympic sports," he said.

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I don't know what the decision making process is but you would think something like Equestrian would be axed over one of these two. I guess this means that Baseball is no longer a sport so all basball topics should probably go in off topic.

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[Ninti the Mad]

Baeball is boring so good riddance.

[RoXer]

Thats fine as long as they replace them with something decent. But squash and karate? WTF?

Golf would have been badass.

[The Mackem]

They aren't replacing them with anything.

[Adder]

Cheeky Brits.

[RoXer]

Oh I see. I missed the "rejected" part.

[DaveWadding]

Olympic softball is actually a pretty good watch. The US team is really awesome.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Cheeky <s>Brits</s> International Olympic Committee

[BCWWF]

I am kind of dissapointed to see softball taken out, because they don't have a pro league or anything, the Olympics are all they had.

[SuperSlim]

so they axe baseball and softball but keep curling?

[Team Sheep]

I wish they'd replace it with 7's rugby.

[MoRcHeEbA]

so they axe baseball and softball but keep curling?


Summer... Winter :p

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Olympic Baseball was weak becuase pros didnt play. I am surprised to see Softball go, a lot of people are upset with the decision though because the stadiums were usually full for those 2 events.

[SuperSlim]

Summer... Winter :p

:$ I'm having an off day

[Adder]

I am kind of dissapointed to see softball taken out, because they don't have a pro league or anything, the Olympics are all they had.
My sentiments exactly.

[The Outlaw]

Yeah I always watched Olympic softball. I like fast pitch softball.

Plus the whole Jenny Finch thing

[el fregadero]

I guess this means that Baseball is no longer a sport so all basball topics should probably go in off topic.

LOL

[BCWWF]

I covered softball for my paper and got to see people like Cat Osterman, it really is an underrated sport on the higher levels.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

I am kind of dissapointed to see softball taken out, because they don't have a pro league or anything, the Olympics are all they had.
They started a pro fast pitch league last year I think.

[Rob]

But baseball is so massive in Japan and South America!!!

[Bad Company]

God fucking dammit, I wanted Rugby 7's in there :mad: It's the kind of exposure the game needs.
Pity about them dropping softball, baseball I'm not so fussed about.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

But baseball is so massive in Japan and South America!!!
Right and rugby has been an Olympic sport how many years now? How about Cricket? Seems to me that neither of those "world" sports has been in the Olympics since 1924. Great job proving you're not ignorant again, Roberto.

[BCWWF]

What is Rugby 7's? I've just never heard the 7 part of it.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

There are 7 players per side instead of the usual 15. There's some other stuff too but that's the difference.

[Rob]

Right and rugby has been an Olympic sport how many years now? How about Cricket? Seems to me that neither of those "world" sports has been in the Olympics since 1924. Great job proving you're not ignorant again, Roberto.

Ignorant? How's that dude? I don't remember raving about how big Cricket or Rugby are. But since we are on the subject, they are both massively more popular around the world than baseball.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

And yet they haven't been an Olympic sport in over 80 years. So clearly a popularity of a sport has no bearing on whether or not they are in the Olympics. Hence, you bringing up the popularity of the sport, albeit mockingly, as a reason it got cut shows lack of knowledge AKA ignorance.

[Bad Company]

I'd have to say Rugby is one of the, if not, the fastest growing sport in the world. It's a shame to see it not part of the games.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

I agree with that. It seems like the Olympics would be a perfect place to expose a sport like that to cultures in North America and Asia that seemingly love violent sports with lots of contact and hard hitting.

[BCWWF]

I don't know though, sports like that are better off having their own tournament. Rugby already has their world cup, now they just need exposure. Having soccer in the Olympics (for the mens side) has really done nothing for the game, I feel like rugby would be similar.

[Bad Company]

Yeah, but soccer has almost reached its limit as to countries it reaches. Rugby is still in its early stages, and 7's in the olympics would be a good launchpad for the game, unlike having full soccer in the olympics, 7's rugby is a cut down game the is faster, more flowing, and shows players creativity. It might get people interested in the 15s.

[BCWWF]

Do you think the top players would go though? I guess if 7's is a different game it works.

[Bad Company]

Yeah, the top players would still go, it's just that alot of 15s Players aren't suited to the 7's game as they don't have the pace/skills etc. I know New Zealand would send a full strength 7's team to the olympics, as would any other rugby nation. Alot of the best rugby players of our time have come up through 7's rugby. Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen spring to mind immediately.

[Rain Man]

Lacrosse should be an olympic Sport

[Londoner]

Baseball is no longer a sport? Er...when was it ever a sport? :shifty:

[RoXer]

INDOOR Lacrosse*

[TheNamelessOne]

Bah. I bet they start including darts as part of the attempts to get it recognised as a serious sport.

I would like to see more fat middle aged men with mullets being called "athletes" though.