Cuts from 2012 Olympics - Baseball no longer a sport

[The Mackem]

Fewer sports for London Olympics

London bid team return home 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. Regents Park will cease to be an Olympic venue - but it could be used to help stage our cultural celebrations Mike Lee 2012 spokesman 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." I can't understand why squash would be rejected From W Have your say on Five LIve 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. ----------------------------------------- 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.