Softball Out of 2016 Olympics

Sept. 1, 2009

Softball and baseball have struck out for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Despite all the petitions and pleas, the International Olympic Committee said no to two of America’s most popular sports.

At the same time, the IOC recommended that golf and rugby sevens, a faster-paced version of traditional rugby be added.

The August ruling backs up a 2005 decision not to allow the two sports into the 2012 Summer Olympics.

IOC President Jacques Rogge said that the rejected sports would not be reconsidered if golf and rugby aren't added.

Despite the setback for softball, two-time Olympian Jennie Finch vowed to fight on. She called the recent decision a heartbreaking day, particularly for young players around the world who dreamed of playing at the sport's highest level.

Softball was added to the Olympics at Atlanta in 1996 and was a part of the last four games, with the United States winning three gold medals before Japan’s victory last summer in China.

In 2005, softball and baseball became the first sports in 69 years to be dropped from the Olympics, beginning with the 2012 London Games. Both lost appeals for reinstatement in 2006 and then set their sights on this year's vote to get back on the program for 2016.

"We have to rebound and I think our sport is too good not to prevail and our sport will continue on," Finch said during a conference call. "There will be a USA Softball and there will still be international softball, and we're looking forward to world championships next summer and the stage the world will have to showcase how great our sport is and to prove that we do belong in the Olympics. This fight isn't over."

Neither baseball nor softball ever got more than two of the eight votes needed in seven rounds of secret-ballot voting.

In the United States, softball has enjoyed great growth with senior programs in addition to colleges and youth programs.