Oly..Womens softballs future?

Question

Why are the olympics saying that they won't have womens softball in the future?

Answer 1

Both baseball and softball were taken out of the 2012 games in London, but both international federations are lobbying to be back in 2016.

Answer 2

i dont know. but i think it is stupid. i am a softball player and i think it is out right idiotic that they are taking out softball and baseball.

if they were to take out anything take out something boring like fencing. no one watches that.  

Answer 3

Theres no competition out there.  The U.S. womens team has never been beaten sense the olympics brought in softball as a competition.  Really thought how many other countries play softball as much as the U.S.

Answer 4

It's simply because there are not enough countries that play softball and baseball competitively.  For a sport to be included in the Olympics it must have worldwide appeal (like soccer - many countries have national competitions).  Baseball and softball is only played competitively at a national level in a handful of countries like the US and Japan.

I find it disappointing as I'm a huge baseball fan (I played when I was a kid in Australia), but there is not enough of a fanbase.  Australia used to have a professional baseball league which would play nationally, however this collapsed many years ago.  Most of our talented players play as amateurs and then move to the US or Japan to play professionally.

But having said that, I understand where they're coming from in their decision.  There's just not enough competition and it's always the same countries battling for gold.