Softball at the Summer Olympics

Softball at the Summer Olympics
Governing body ISF
Events 1 (women)
Games
1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1920
1924 1928 1932 1936 1948 1952
1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976
1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000
2004 2008 2012
Medalists

Softball was introduced as an Olympic sport for women (only) in the 1996 Summer Olympics. On July 11, 2005, the IOC voted to drop baseball and softball from the Olympic program for 2012,[1] a decision that was reaffirmed on February 9, 2006.[2] It was officially decided in August 2009 at IOC Board meeting in Berlin that it will not be included in the 2016 Summer Olympics.[3]

On April 1, 2011, the International Softball Federation and International Baseball Federation announced they were preparing a joint proposal to revive play of both sports at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[4]

However, in August 2011 the Olympic news outlet Around the Rings reported that according to ISF president Don Porter, the ISF and the IBAF will not rush into an Olympic proposal. "In my discussions with the IOC, I was informed it’s not an urgent decision that we have to make today, tomorrow, next month or even next year," he said. "We haven’t completely said no, but we are waiting to see what our overall membership thinks about whether it’s to our advantage to be working together."

Contents

Medal table

 Rank  Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1  United States (USA) 3 1 0 4
2  Japan (JPN) 1 1 1 3
3  Australia (AUS) 0 1 3 4
4  China (CHN) 0 1 0 1

Medalists

Games Gold Silver Bronze
1996 Atlanta United States China Australia
2000 Sydney United States Japan Australia
2004 Athens United States Australia Japan
2008 Beijing Japan United States Australia

Participating Nations

Nation 1996 2000 2004 2008 Years
Australia 3 3 2 3 4
Canada 5 8 5 4 4
China 2 4 4 5 4
Chinese Taipei 6 - 6 6 3
Cuba - 7 - - 1
Greece - - 7 - 1
Japan 4 2 3 1 4
Italy - 5 8 - 2
Netherlands 7 - - 8 2
New Zealand - 6 - - 1
Puerto Rico 8 - - - 1
United States 1 1 1 2 4
Venezuela - - - 7 1
Total Nations 8 8 8 8

See also

References

  1. ^ Associated Press (9 July 2005). "They'rrre out! Olympics drop baseball, softball". NBC Sports. http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/8504326/site/21683474/print/1/displaymode/1098/. Retrieved 15 August 2008. "Rogge has basically conspired against the sports to get them removed" 
  2. ^ de Vries, Lloyd (9 February 2006). "Strike 3 for Olympic Baseball". CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/09/sportsline/main1300205.shtml. Retrieved 15 August 2008. 
  3. ^ Wilson, Stephen (August 13, 2009). "Golf, rugby backed by IOC board for 2016 Games". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2009656175_apolyiocnewsports.html. Retrieved 2009-08-14. 
  4. ^ "Baseball, softball consider joint 2020 Olympic bid". Yahoo Sports. Associated Press. April 1, 2011. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110401/ap_on_sp_ol/oly_baseball_softball_bid_1. Retrieved 2011-04-05.