Baseball dropped from the Olympics as of 2012

darkcloud4579 · 07-08-2005, 02:27 AM

SINGAPORE -- Baseball and softball were dropped Friday from the Olympic program for the 2012 Summer Games in London.

Each of the 28 existing sports was put to a secret vote by the International Olympic Committee, and baseball and softball failed to receive a majority required to stay on the program. The other 26 sports were retained.

Baseball and softball are the first sports cut from the Olympics since water polo in 1936.

The IOC will consider replacing them with two sports from a waiting list of five sports: golf, rugby, squash, karate and roller sports.

Baseball has been vulnerable because it doesn't bring top Major League players to the Olympics. Softball has been in danger because of a perceived lack of global appeal and participation.

"Not all sports are indispensable for the Olympic program, we know that," IOC president Jacques Rogge told the delegates before the vote.

Rogge urged the 100-plus members to vote strictly on the technical merits of the sports and not for subjective, political or personal reasons.

"If you consider a modification, you should be convinced it will bring an improvement," Rogge said.

The IOC will keep the voting figures secret. Not even the IOC members or sports federations will learn the totals. The secrecy was requested by the international federations in order to avoid any ranking or embarrassment for any sports which just barely make the cut.

Rogge said the figures will be seen only by an independent official, who will send the results by sealed envelope to an IOC notary in Lausanne, Switzerland. Rogge will only open the envelope in the case of a voting dispute.

rem · 07-08-2005, 02:29 AM

I'm inclined to boycott the Olympics, but at the same time I don't really care.

Raderick · 07-08-2005, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkcloud4579

The IOC will consider replacing them with two sports from a waiting list of five sports: ...roller sports....

Rollerderby!!!

ihatenames · 07-08-2005, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by remangiii

I'm inclined to boycott the Olympics, but at the same time I don't really care.

Exactly how i feel really. I want to be mad, but i can't really find it in me. Oh well i had fun cheering the canadians on during the last one.

darkcloud4579 · 07-08-2005, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raderick

Rollerderby!!!

Actually, it's three different disciplines.

Roller hockey, Roller Speed skating (which looks like roller derby, only.. I don't think you can push..) and Artistic (which is basically Roller Figure Skating)

Astros33Resurrected · 07-08-2005, 02:42 AM

the olympics suck

canadiancreed · 07-08-2005, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ihatenames

Exactly how i feel really. I want to be mad, but i can't really find it in me. Oh well i had fun cheering the canadians on during the last one.

it's the 1994 conspiracy theory

Le Grande Orange · 07-08-2005, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raderick

Rollerderby!!!

No, no.... rollerball! Now that's the sport to bring in as a replacement.

UngratefulDead · 07-08-2005, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

No, no.... rollerball! Now that's the sport to bring in as a replacement.

I would most definitely watch that.

Long_Long_Name · 07-08-2005, 03:53 AM

Golf at the Olympics? Oh my!

randomlefty10 · 07-08-2005, 04:19 AM

Good. It was dumb to have baseball and softball in the olympics. The fields were single use and most host countries had no internal baseball program.

Golf would ok, I guess.
I would love to see more Rugby in general, but not sure how much of an olympic sport it is
Gotta go with no to roller sports
Squash/Karate - dont really care.

I still maintain that skydiving should be an event. Fastest to the ground wins, now THAT'S RIVETING TELEVISION.

SanDiegoPadres19 · 07-08-2005, 04:28 AM

This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard.

It is like that kid who brings the balls and the bats to the field, gets to play in the game but strikes out in his first two or three at bats and then quits before the game is over because HE ****ING SUCKS!

Get over it. Baseball and softball are awesome sports and should be in the Olympics. This hurts now but in a few years this will really sting. I hope this is not a final.

Who the HELL cares about rugby, squash, roller games or karate. I hope baseball officals and softball officals make a huge stink out of this. This needs to change.

Long_Long_Name · 07-08-2005, 04:46 AM

Baseball shouldn't have been part of the Olympic program anyway. It has no place there. It's not very "global", and a poor team can easily beat a good team - which is ok during a 162 game season, but a short tournament is not doing a service to the game. Sure, the games give baseball exposure, but I don't think baseball needs to be part of the Olympics.

rangers85 · 07-08-2005, 04:57 AM

Personally I didn't understand it to begin with. Just look at the recent olympics with Greece. They were basically begging people to play for the national team. Personally, I think you need games that have global appeal and is played at least somewhat globally. Other than North America, the Caribbean, the northern tips of South America, Japan, and Korea, where else is baseball really played at any decent level? Basically, you're looking at leaving out all of Europe, all of Africa, and almost all of Asia with baseball, plus most of the southern tip of South America.

Softball, is it really played anywhere outside of America? Honestly I don't follow it enough to know.

TheRockCT · 07-08-2005, 06:01 AM

I would wager that the recently announced Baseball World Cup that's going to happen next year should at least ease the sting of anyone seriously disappointed in this.

cooper_gd · 07-08-2005, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Long_Long_Name

Baseball shouldn't have been part of the Olympic program anyway. It has no place there. It's not very "global", and a poor team can easily beat a good team - which is ok during a 162 game season, but a short tournament is not doing a service to the game. Sure, the games give baseball exposure, but I don't think baseball needs to be part of the Olympics.

""

Dagrims · 07-08-2005, 07:39 AM

This decision is much more harmful to softball than for baseball, particularly from the USA's perspective. You rarely hear or read about a baseball player's stated goal being to make the Olympic team, but that truly is the pinnacle for softball players. That's really the one way that they can achieve fame (and in the rare case, endorsement deals).

But who cares about softball, right?

edrooney · 07-08-2005, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SanDiegoPadres19

Get over it. Baseball and softball are awesome sports and should be in the Olympics. This hurts now but in a few years this will really sting. I hope this is not a final.

Who the HELL cares about rugby, squash, roller games or karate. I hope baseball officals and softball officals make a huge stink out of this. This needs to change.

Baseball and softball were more beneficial to axe, as facilities for the other sports exist in London (but I believe they're going to build new a squash facility), so it was more a money decision than anything else.

In addition, very few countries play baseball, or even care about it. It's only a major sport in the US, Canada and Japan. If baseball and softball officials do make a stink, it won't make a difference, as they carry no weight in international sporting circles.

Personally, I think any sport where the Olympics isn't considered to be the ultimate achievement (e.g. soccer, tennis) should be axed. It denigrates the Olympics to see World Champions casually show up and look mildly pleased when they win a gold medal.

cooper_gd · 07-08-2005, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dagrims

This decision is much more harmful to softball than for baseball, particularly from the USA's perspective. You rarely hear or read about a baseball player's stated goal being to make the Olympic team, but that truly is the pinnacle for softball players. That's really the one way that they can achieve fame (and in the rare case, endorsement deals).

But who cares about softball, right?

Good point. It is similar, from an athletic profession, to dropping wrestling, gymnastics or ice skating. There is no where to go BUT the olympics. Without the olympics, the is no life after career - no cereal boxes, WWE contracts or Disney on ice. That's where these athletes make their living.

Tho' softball has never been as popular as any of those, the olympics were still the ONE GOAL that a softball player competed for. The occational Letterman appearance or Regis not withstanding.

thomasthomas · 07-08-2005, 10:25 AM

My, how the times have changed. Baseball was cancelled at the Olympics because it didn't attract enough professional players. It wasn't that long ago that pros weren't allowed to compete in any Olympics event!

But I can understand, baseball isn't really a global sport, like others have said. But I do believe it's a joke that PING PONG is an Olympic event and baseball isn't!

Why not add snooker or 9-ball or something like that to the Olympics?

07-08-2005, 02:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
darkcloud4579 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 5,248 Blog Entries: 29 Thanks: 73 Thanked 66x in 37 posts	Baseball dropped from the Olympics as of 2012 SINGAPORE -- Baseball and softball were dropped Friday from the Olympic program for the 2012 Summer Games in London. Each of the 28 existing sports was put to a secret vote by the International Olympic Committee, and baseball and softball failed to receive a majority required to stay on the program. The other 26 sports were retained. Baseball and softball are the first sports cut from the Olympics since water polo in 1936. The IOC will consider replacing them with two sports from a waiting list of five sports: golf, rugby, squash, karate and roller sports. Baseball has been vulnerable because it doesn't bring top Major League players to the Olympics. Softball has been in danger because of a perceived lack of global appeal and participation. "Not all sports are indispensable for the Olympic program, we know that," IOC president Jacques Rogge told the delegates before the vote. Rogge urged the 100-plus members to vote strictly on the technical merits of the sports and not for subjective, political or personal reasons. "If you consider a modification, you should be convinced it will bring an improvement," Rogge said. The IOC will keep the voting figures secret. Not even the IOC members or sports federations will learn the totals. The secrecy was requested by the international federations in order to avoid any ranking or embarrassment for any sports which just barely make the cut. Rogge said the figures will be seen only by an independent official, who will send the results by sealed envelope to an IOC notary in Lausanne, Switzerland. Rogge will only open the envelope in the case of a voting dispute. __________________ SLOP: Commissioner FOBL: Marlboro Townies FOFC-FBCB: Kansas Jayhawks ZOMGFL: Colorado Buffaloes Omnivore FBS Computer Ranking

07-08-2005, 02:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
rem Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: College Park, Md. Posts: 4,985 Thanks: 7 Thanked 7x in 5 posts	I'm inclined to boycott the Olympics, but at the same time I don't really care. __________________ Born To Play: Commissioner, Baltimore Orioles GM MLB 93: Baltimore Orioles OTBA: Washington Filibusters 2005 Winner of LL's Pick the Loser Contest! - 15-0

07-08-2005, 02:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
Astros33Resurrected Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Houston,TX Posts: 2,096 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	the olympics suck __________________ Yankees Return to Greatness- check out my Yankees dynasty! LNB-Atlantic City Leprechauns The MLB-Cincinatti Reds-2008-11-21(rebuild)

07-08-2005, 03:53 AM	#10 (permalink)
Long_Long_Name Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Montréal Posts: 7,044 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	Golf at the Olympics? Oh my! __________________ Nor really around much anymore.

07-08-2005, 04:28 AM	#12 (permalink)
SanDiegoPadres19 All Star Reserve Join Date: May 2002 Location: San Diego Posts: 937 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. It is like that kid who brings the balls and the bats to the field, gets to play in the game but strikes out in his first two or three at bats and then quits before the game is over because HE **ING SUCKS! Get over it. Baseball and softball are awesome sports and should be in the Olympics. This hurts now but in a few years this will really sting. I hope this is not a final. Who the HELL cares about rugby, squash, roller games or karate. I hope baseball officals and softball officals make a huge stink out of this. This needs to change. __________________ Classic Jerry Colmanisms "Montreal leads Atlanta by three, 5-1." "They throw Winfield out at second, but he's safe." (As Matt Williams took a curtain call after hitting a home run) "Barry Bonds gets a standing ovation as he digs in." (Following the second out) ".. and the Padres win the National League Wes... oh, just got a little exicted." ************ Internet Sim Baseball League, Lo$ Angele$ Dodger$ ISBL Fictional Blog

07-08-2005, 04:19 AM	#11 (permalink)
randomlefty10 All Star Starter Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 1,438 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	Good. It was dumb to have baseball and softball in the olympics. The fields were single use and most host countries had no internal baseball program. Golf would ok, I guess. I would love to see more Rugby in general, but not sure how much of an olympic sport it is Gotta go with no to roller sports Squash/Karate - dont really care. I still maintain that skydiving should be an event. Fastest to the ground wins, now THAT'S RIVETING TELEVISION.

07-08-2005, 04:46 AM	#13 (permalink)
Long_Long_Name Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Montréal Posts: 7,044 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	Baseball shouldn't have been part of the Olympic program anyway. It has no place there. It's not very "global", and a poor team can easily beat a good team - which is ok during a 162 game season, but a short tournament is not doing a service to the game. Sure, the games give baseball exposure, but I don't think baseball needs to be part of the Olympics. __________________ Nor really around much anymore.

07-08-2005, 04:57 AM	#14 (permalink)
rangers85 All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX...home of the mighty TCU Horned Frogs Posts: 904 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1x in 1 post	Personally I didn't understand it to begin with. Just look at the recent olympics with Greece. They were basically begging people to play for the national team. Personally, I think you need games that have global appeal and is played at least somewhat globally. Other than North America, the Caribbean, the northern tips of South America, Japan, and Korea, where else is baseball really played at any decent level? Basically, you're looking at leaving out all of Europe, all of Africa, and almost all of Asia with baseball, plus most of the southern tip of South America. Softball, is it really played anywhere outside of America? Honestly I don't follow it enough to know.

07-08-2005, 06:01 AM	#15 (permalink)
TheRockCT All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: TN Posts: 1,083 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	I would wager that the recently announced Baseball World Cup that's going to happen next year should at least ease the sting of anyone seriously disappointed in this. __________________ GM, Vermont Emperor Penguins - POTD POTD Champions: 2011, 2012, 2013 GM, Monterrey Aztecs* - NABA *NABA Champions: 2013

07-08-2005, 07:39 AM	#17 (permalink)
Dagrims Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 3,828 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6x in 1 post	This decision is much more harmful to softball than for baseball, particularly from the USA's perspective. You rarely hear or read about a baseball player's stated goal being to make the Olympic team, but that truly is the pinnacle for softball players. That's really the one way that they can achieve fame (and in the rare case, endorsement deals). But who cares about softball, right? __________________ "Read books, get brain."

07-08-2005, 10:25 AM	#20 (permalink)
thomasthomas All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 880 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	My, how the times have changed. Baseball was cancelled at the Olympics because it didn't attract enough professional players. It wasn't that long ago that pros weren't allowed to compete in any Olympics event! But I can understand, baseball isn't really a global sport, like others have said. But I do believe it's a joke that PING PONG is an Olympic event and baseball isn't! Why not add snooker or 9-ball or something like that to the Olympics?

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