Is it fair to abolish pro-American games from the Olympics?

Question

Seeing as they are now removing softball and baseball, what's next? Sand Volleyball, Gymnastics, Track and Field, Swimming? USA softball in Greece was 54 runs for, 1 run against....In Beijing it is even worse, 62 runs for, 1 run against (an unforced error). USA Baseball was 74 runs scored for, 8 runs against. Nastia Liukin obviously outperforms on the uneven bars with no hop on the landing, the Chinese crosses on hers, yet she (Nastia) loses the tie-breaker? WTF? I know we're trying to even out the medal counts in the Olympics, but to take everything away is going a little extreme...come on world....catch up!!!

Answer 1

As much as baseball is relatively unpopular worldwide, I think it's mainly being taken off because Major League Baseball refuses to suspend its season and allow its best players to play in the Olympic Games.  Thus, softball gets an unfortunate blow because it's being associated with baseball.

If you get the "U.S. vs. world" conspiracy out of your head, you'll realize the world is catching up.  China has been catching up ever since Atlanta 1996, as the U.S.'s gold medal count since then has decreased and China's has increased, and the U.S. is losing a few of its athletics gold medals to Jamaica.  The gymnastics judges are unbiased and includes an American judge, so if they are making a mistake, it's simply a systematic flaw, not a biased one.  Otherwise, they would be seriously questioned by the IOC like the French judge was in Salt Lake City.

The removal of softball was unfortunate, but the removal of baseball was to send MLB a message that they are not willing to deal with minor leaguers and want the best competitors in the sport.  There is a chance both will be re-inducted for 2016.  As for the conspiracy theory, there really isn't any, as the rest of the world is catching up to the U.S.

Answer 2

Baseball and softball are not popular worldwide.

A sport has to be played at a high level in many countries for it to be considered.

Baseball and softball have only lasted this long because no city has opted to replace them before this.

They were brought in on a trial basis to see if the other countries wanted to take them up.

Answer 3

You suggest that the Olympics retain a game that has little interest in most of the world.

What you are saying is that because one, single country can walk away with an unchallenged medal, that it should remain in the game.

Who's being unfair?  Evening up medal counts is NOT the reason events are held or dropped.  From where did you get the imprssion that someone is trying to "take everythin away?"  And, what does some apparently biased judging have to do with it?

No event is supposed to be "pro" anything.  Look at how poorly Americans performed in basketball for so many years.

Baseball and Softball is being dropped because of lack or WORLD WIDE interest.  If enough teams can't be fielded to make any real competition, what would be the point?

You want to talk about fair?  Why doesn't the "WORLD" Series have Japanese teams eligible for a chance to play?  I'll tell you why.  It's because it is NOT a "World" Series.  It's an MLB series.  (remember how embarassing it was to have a CANADIAN team win the series?  Imagine how it would feel to have a Japanese team win.

Answer 4

Put in cricket!

Answer 5

Yes, because there is a growing concern outside of the US that this country has had an unfair advantage and having secretly been conspiring to undo America's dominance of the Olympics.

Answer 6

Lol ! Wow , you actually think thats why they're getting rid of them!

For one thing, there are other countries much better than the US at both of those sprots. and they're not getting rid of it to even out the medal count, they're getting rid of it because not enough countries particiapte in them