By RENALDO DORSETT
Sports Reporter
rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
WHILE local softball attempts to regain its status as a powerhouse in the region, international softball appears back on the path to the Olympic Games.
Softball was one of several sports to come under review for possible admission to the 2020 Olympic Games.
Other sports on the list included squash, baseball and wrestling.
Golf and rugby sevens were added in 2009 as additional sports to the 2016 Olympic programme.
The executive board of the International Olympic Committee made a recommendation for the sports during the 125th IOC Session for possible inclusion on the Olympic programme for the 2020 Olympic Games.
“It will certainly be a major issue to see the sport return to the highest level of competition,” said Bahamas Softball Federation president Burket Dorsett, “It is good not just for us here in the Bahamas but has tremendous implications for the game worldwide. Softball remains a major sport played in the Bahamas, played at every level from primary school to the senior level.”
The World Baseball Softball Confederation will play a vital part in the determining vote this September.
“The marriage between softball and baseball will go a long way in getting both sports returned to the Olympic fold and the formation of the World Baseball Softball Confederation is evidence of that,” Dorsett said.
“So we hope for a favourable vote in September. The Bahamas was once the third ranked softball power in the world, we certainly want to return to that prominence and want the sport in general to return to the prominence of the Olympic level.”
The committee selected the three sports by secret ballot from a shortlist of eight that also included karate, roller sports, sport climbing, wakeboarding and wushu. The vote followed 30-minute presentations by each international federation and an extensive evaluation by the Olympic Programme Commission to determine their potential added value to the Games.
The full IOC membership will meet for the 125th Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 7 to 10 September and will vote on which of the three sports to add to the programme of the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in addition to the 25 core sports, which now include golf and rugby sevens.
“The executive board received excellent presentations today from eight international federations,” said IOC president Jacques Rogge in a press statement.
“It was never going to be an easy decision but I feel my colleagues on the board made a good decision in selecting baseball/softball, squash and wrestling to be put forward in Buenos Aires. I wish the three shortlisted sports the best of luck in the run-up to the vote in September and would like to thank the other sports for their hard work and dedication.”
According to the IOC’s website, in an effort to ensure the Olympic Games remain relevant to sports fans of all generations, “the Olympic Programme Commission systematically reviews every sport following each edition of the Games.”
“The Commission uses 39 criteria in determining a sport’s suitability for the Olympic Games, including youth appeal, universality, popularity, good governance, respect for athletes and respect for the Olympic values.”
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