usatoday: Baseball, softball bumped from Olympics

[unhappycamper]

Baseball, softball bumped from Olympics
By Vicki Michaelis, USA TODAY
Updated 7/8/2005 5:54 PM

SINGAPORE — Baseball and softball are out of the Olympics as of 2012, in a vote that surprised even longtime International Olympic Committee members.

"There were a lot of people that said they supported us and obviously didn't," said Don Porter, president of the International Softball Federation.

Baseball joined the Olympics in 1992 and softball in 1996. (Related items: Major leaguers upset | Sadness, anger in Latin America)

Friday's secret vote reflected a heavy European influence of the IOC, which claims a near majority of European members. The popularity of baseball and softball are limited primarily to the Americas, Canada and Asia. Both sports were founded in the U.S.

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http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2005-07-08-baseball-softball-dropped_x.htm

[cornermouse]

1. I took this vote as a possible tribute to Bush's worldwide popularity.

[blindpig]

2. yes, too bad Cuba gets whacked in the blowback. n/t

[HuckleB]

4. That's the only explanation that justifies the decision.

Ugh.

[dr.zoidberg]

3. Just one less reason to watch the Olympics.

At least there is still boxing, even if the fighters throw only pity-pat punches.

[jakefrep]

5. To tell the truth...

...I don't think they went far enough in cutting sports out of the Olympics. There are a whole bunch of other sports that have lived past their sell-by date.

[Jersey Devil]

6. Oh Joy!! More TV time for dressage, synchronized swimming &

pistol shooting, not to mention the Modern Pentathlon where they get to shoot guns while on skiis, a real popular event!

[northzax]

7. that's the biathalon

with the skis...

softball should never have been there in the first place.