Baseball Officials Make Strong Pitch For Return To Olympics
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Schiller Says MLB Would Not
Play Opposite Medal Games |
Baseball officials yesterday said that they will do "almost anything to create a schedule to put an Olympic tournament in the spotlight should the sport be readmitted" to the Games for '16, according to Philip Hersh of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Baseball made its Olympic case to the IOC exec board along with seven other sports -- golf, karate, roller sports, rugby, squash and softball. IBAF President Harvey Schiller during the presentation said that there would be "no major-league games on the day of the Olympic medal games," nor would there be any "MLB games broadcast at the times of Olympic Games, which means Olympic baseball would create a schedule to have its games end before MLB night games begin." Schiller also said that while MLB "does not intend to stop its season during the Olympics, there would be a 'representative number of the best players available (for the Games).'" He added that the IBAF would "work with Olympic host cities to finance construction and after-use costs of the two stadiums needed for the five-day tournament." Also, should the IOC award the '16 Games to Madrid, "baseball would be willing to have its Olympic tournament played in Barcelona, which has facilities" from the '92 Games (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/16).
OUT OF THE PARK? Schiller yesterday was "confident in the presentation's effectiveness." Schiller: "Baseball has shown it will do whatever it takes, from the grassroots to the professional level, to be not just a partner, but the best partner, for the Olympic movement" (MLB.com, 6/15). More Schiller: "We feel that we have not just addressed the issues that were presented as to why baseball was removed for 2012, but have also outlined the most effective way in which the Olympic program can work with baseball's year-round global marketing capabilities over the next seven years to maximize Olympic exposure" (JSONLINE.com, 6/15). YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Kaduk noted MLB President & COO Bob DuPuy and MLBPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr, who helped make baseball's presentation yesterday, "ultimately stopped short of the two true ways to ensure reinstatement -- suspending MLB's regular season schedule and allowing the game's best players to participate in the tournament without any strings attached." While Fehr "didn't fully slam the door on the possibility of pro participation, his comments were so poorly defined that they didn't make much of a 'wow' impact." Kaduk noted either MLB is "in with its players or it isn't," but being "so wishy-washy over the issue won't help the resuscitation much." The baseball officials yesterday reportedly gave a signed copy of the June 8 Sports Illustrated issue featuring high school baseball player Bryce Harper on the cover, and added an "'I am ready to play in the 2016 Olympics' message," but Kaduk wrote he is "still not sold that it'll be enough" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/15).
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Golf Seen As One Of Two Favorites To Be
Added To Olympic Roster After Presentations |
JUST THE TWO OF US? In Boston, John Powers notes golf as part of its effort to rejoin the Olympic Games "would offer 72-hole competition for 60 men and women with the world's top 15 players given automatic berths, would arrange its tour schedules around the Games and employ nearby courses." In addition, Rugby, which was last part of the Olympic program in 1924, "would have tournaments for both genders using existing stadia." Powers notes "each of the other five sports has a drawback." Baseball and softball "require separate facilities," while karate "would be the third martial art on the program, squash televises poorly and roller sports aren't universal." If IOC membership "turns thumbs-down" on the two sports the exec board selects for inclusion, then the "others will be reconsidered" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/16). The AP's Stephen Wilson reported golf and rugby have "emerged as the favourites for acceptance on the Olympic program." IOC President Jacques Rogge said, "All seven sports made interesting and informative presentations. All have something to offer. In the end, the decision will come down to which are the best fit for the Olympic program" (AP, 6/15).
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Rogge Says IOC Intends To Name Two
Finalists At Next Meeting On August 13 |
MAKING A BID: Rogge yesterday told each delegation that the organization intends to "name two finalists at the next meeting" of the exec board on August 13. However, all seven sports will be invited to October's IOC Session in Denmark, where IOC membership will "have the power to decide" whether the five sports not pegged for inclusion could be considered. IOC Sports Dir Christophe Dubi yesterday said that all seven sports delivered "'interesting, exciting' presentations and said they all would appear to be evenly matched." AROUND THE RINGS notes the IOC exec board asked only one question of rugby "concerning player injuries in competition," and World Karate Federation President Antonio Espinós said that the "lack of questioning was a plus point." The softball delegation received "no questions" following their 20-minute presentation, nor did squash, which used "six speakers and showed an eight-minute video to get their message across." Also, Int'l Roller Sports Federation President Sabatino Aracu in his presentation "spoke about the development of roller sports and its disciplines, stressing the popularity of roller speed skating among young people." Int'l Rugby Board Secretary General Mike Miller promised that the sport's "top players will compete" in the Games (AROUNDTHERINGS.com, 6/16).
CHANGES FOR '12: In Manchester, Owen Gibson reports the IOC will "consider the introduction of women's boxing and an overhaul of the modern pentathlon among possible changes to events in time" for the '12 London Olympics. Dubi said that the exec board would "consider 33 changes to the existing 26 sports" before the London Games (Manchester GUARDIAN, 6/16).
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