Why is it that baseball has been taken off of the 2012 Olympic roster? ?

Question

Why is it that baseball has been taken off of the 2012 Olympic roster? ?

Answer 1

in the UK they play cricket. a provisional game put in by the US. and it will come back after 2012

Answer 2

the olympics are meant to bring the world together... hence all of the sports that can be easily played by all countries- running, swimming, etc. baseball isnt that popular internationally therefore, it has no real place in the olympics.  further, the ioc is trying to increase viewership by decreasing events.  finally, the olympics is becoming too expensive because of all the unwatched sports w barely any participants. cutting down on these sports will allow for the olympics to be less of a financial burden on the host country.

Answer 3

Because the Jacques, Count Rogge, the president of the IOC feels that baseball is too American. And most French speaking people, hate anything American or English. This is probably because French used to be the most important language once. In today's world English is the primary language. And French is no longer the world-language it once was. I know Rogge is Belgian, not French but his first language is French and he thinks, sounds, and acts like a Frenchman.

If baseball is removed, shouldn't synchronized swimming, ping-pong, and equestrian activities also be removed?

Answer 4

The official reason is the IOC wants to decrease the costs of hosting the Olympics. Athens was used as an example of how costs spiraled out of control. As the number of events and security measures have increased, the IOC is concerned about the cost of hosting the Olympics. China has the money so it wasn't a big factor, but smaller countries who want to host will have problems with expenses. I'm sure the IOC wants to have the Olympics in Africa in the near future, so how can a country like Egypt or South Africa build a baseball/softball stadium when very few people in that country plays the sport?

There are events that are less popular like pistol shooting or archery, but how much is it to build these facilities? Much less than building a baseball stadium.

As for the USA being so much better at women's softball... I think that's a reason, though not as important as money. The IOC is canceling men's baseball which is played all over the USA, Latin America, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. If this was purely an anti-American and/or anti-women's sport decision, then the IOC would have canceled softball but not baseball. But they're canceling both because of $$$.

If women's softball and men's baseball wants to return to the Olympics, they will need to expand their interest around the world. Look at basketball where interest is great outside the USA, although the USA has the most talent.

Who's to blame the most? I would blame MLB baseball who has the most resources. They are so short-sighted and money-driven. If MLB spent money in developing interest outside their core markets, they could make baseball into a world sport. Women's softball would benefit. Instead, MLB does things the quick and easy way. Make cities build new baseball stadiums, charge higher ticket prices, build training academies in Latin America to sign cheaper (and more willing) baseball propsects, etc... Heck, MLB has even been accused of ignoring the African American market. MLB is all about making the quick buck. We'll see how long they can keep this up before they have to make a change in direction.

Answer 5

it's not global enough. im a baseball freak and i agree. its either always the U.S. bronze, Japan silver and some central american island country gold.

Answer 6

They said because its really not worth it, its not really a world-famous sport that the world plays so much..and they also took softball off the roster too simply because our female american team wins every year and has been EVERY SINCE THE OLYMPICS BEGAN..no other softball team in the world has won except America.

Answer 7

It not popular around the world.

Greece don't play it, when they had the games they called people with greek parents who lived in American and other places to put together a team.  

The venue unlike other sport it need a big field and not used for any other sport.  

Answer 8

b/c the usa team won it all the time.

Answer 9

It is a political decision.  There are plenty of sports that aren't popular worldwide that are in the Olympics.  Baseball certainly has as large of a following as handball which is primarily a European sport.