SINGAPORE - Baseball didn't bring top Major League players to the Summer Games and softball was criticized for not having global appeal and participation.
Early Friday in Singapore the International Olympic Committee voted to drop the two sports from the Olympic program for the 2012 Games in London.
Each of the 28 existing sports was put to a secret vote by the IOC and baseball and softball didn't get a majority required to stay on the program. The other 26 sports were retained.
The IOC will replace them with two sports from a waiting list of five - golf, rugby, squash, karate and roller sports. A decision is expected Saturday.
Baseball and softball will be a part of the 2008 program in Beijing.
IOC president Jacques Rogge said baseball and softball will be eligible to win back their place in future games.
The U.S. won the baseball gold medal in the 2000 Sydney Games and a bronze in 1996. The Americans dominated softball winning the gold in 1996, 2000 and 2004.
Thursday
May 8th, 2025
12:22AM
