Editor’s note: This story is revised from the print edition.
World baseball organizers are developing a scaled-down, one-week tournament format in hopes of landing major league players if the sport returns to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 as expected.
The format, four days shorter than prior versions, would mitigate scheduling objections that have kept MLB from participating in the past. But complicated obstacles would still remain, and MLB officials are making no promises.
Baseball/softball and four other sports are poised to obtain final approval by the International Olympic Committee in early August under new rules that allow local hosts to propose temporary additions.
Even though Japanese organizers want baseball under any circumstances, finding a way to include the sport’s biggest stars is crucial to the hopes of landing a permanent home in the Games. MLB has never sent players to Olympic baseball, which relied on minor leaguers and college players during its 1992-2008 run as a medal sport.
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Baseball made its most recent appearance at the Olympic Games in 2008.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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“As a growing global sport, it’s key to have the support from the world’s professional leagues,” said Riccardo Fraccari, president of the World Baseball Softball Confederation, in an email exchange. “I am confident that if our sport returns in 2020, it will be the most elite Olympic baseball tournament ever.
“With a new one-week Olympic baseball format, the aim is not to interrupt any league schedules, as the focus remains on executable and realistic solutions.”
MLB is aware of efforts to confine the tournament to one week.
“We have heard they are playing with different ideas,” said Chris Park, MLB senior vice president of growth, strategy and international. “But we haven’t yet been presented with anything specific, so it’s tough for us to respond in detail.”
The shorter tournament would be less of a burden but nevertheless would seem to require a disruption to a standard MLB schedule. The Tokyo Olympics are slated for July 24-Aug. 9, 2020.
Historically, MLB clubs have strongly resisted any move to shut down the MLB season during peak-attendance summer weeks. Injury risks also have been a concern to both the league and players union. Because of that, former Commissioner Bud Selig and his successor, Rob Manfred, have each spoken repeatedly of the significant obstacles presented by the Olympics.
MLB will discuss details with the world confederation before the IOC’s scheduled vote, Manfred said during an interview at the MLB draft June 9. The league supports the sport’s return to the Games but will bring the matter to owners only after the confederation explains its plans in detail.
“We think the Olympics is a really important event, and we think baseball being in the Olympics is really good for the sport,” Manfred said. “But until we know a little more about what the program is, how long the tournament is going to take, I’m just not going to comment on what’s realistic.”
Manfred met earlier this month with his counterpart in Japanese professional baseball, Nippon Professional Baseball Commissioner Katsuhiko Kumazaki, to discuss the Olympics and several other issues. Kumazaki also attended the MLB draft where he, too, spoke of a desire to return baseball to the Olympic program permanently.
“To Japanese people, Olympic baseball is a love-and-love interest,” Kumazaki said. “Together with the professional and amateur organization in Japan, we have been putting forward our best effort to help baseball back.”
Fraccari said all professional leagues and his body are united in finding the best approach. The sport faces other challenges on the Olympic program, including how to fairly structure global qualifying procedures for a sport dominated by the Americas and East Asia.
Toyko 2020 will join the discussions with baseball officials only after the IOC has given final approval, spokeswoman Hikariko Ono said. The IOC promised its help in securing the best players but otherwise did not answer questions.
In the meantime, MLB and the MLB Players Association are continuing as planned with the World Baseball Classic, the international baseball tournament they co-own and operate, which the confederation sanctions. The fourth edition of that event is scheduled for March 2017, with sites for the semifinal and final games expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The World Baseball Softball Confederation is continuing to develop its own off-year tournament, the Premier12, which did not include big leaguers in its inaugural 2015 run.
