Efforts to return to the Olympics

[Poseidon]

Jacques Rogge and the CIO committee have been extremely clear in their message. The Olympics have to be the highest level of competition in a sport to remain on the program. The main purpose being to attract as much revenue as possible (TV rights and Corporate sponsorships). The only sport federation still resisting this concept is FIFA (soccer) where the Olympics are a U23 tournament. However, FIFA has the political power to play chicken with the CIO.

The cost of venue is only secondary. Building a Velodrome (track cycling) is also extremely expensive and future use of such a facility is at best bleak in most countries.

Rayburn Hesse has been extremely critical of Don Porter in regards to how the ISF tackled the Olympic dossier. I guess he was right. The grand question coming out of this announcement is: If you knew that MLB was not going to come to the dance why deploy so much resources and effort when the main attraction ballerina was going to stay home. Couldn;t it have been deployed more strategically.

Just a point of view.

[Sam]

Jacques Rogge and the CIO committee have been extremely clear in their message. The Olympics have to be the highest level of competition in a sport to remain on the program. The main purpose being to attract as much revenue as possible (TV rights and Corporate sponsorships). The only sport federation still resisting this concept is FIFA (soccer) where the Olympics are a U23 tournament. However, FIFA has the political power to play chicken with the CIO.

The cost of venue is only secondary. Building a Velodrome (track cycling) is also extremely expensive and future use of such a facility is at best bleak in most countries.

Rayburn Hesse has been extremely critical of Don Porter in regards to how the ISF tackled the Olympic dossier. I guess he was right. The grand question coming out of this announcement is: If you knew that MLB was not going to come to the dance why deploy so much resources and effort when the main attraction ballerina was going to stay home. Couldn;t it have been deployed more strategically.

Just a point of view.

Where is the sense in that argument? Is there a higher level of softball than that played in the Olympics? I would say, "No."

So Msr. Rogge can claim what he wishes to claim as the parameters, but it comes down to the facilities costs.

Maybe they are willing to build velodromes to keep the countries that compete well in that particular sport happy. Who is going to complain about softball's absence in addition to us, Japan and Australia or Canada. Many of the other teams are loaded with American players whose heritage may lie in those countries.

[Poseidon]

Where is the sense in that argument? Is there a higher level of softball than that played in the Olympics? I would say, "No."

So Msr. Rogge can claim what he wishes to claim as the parameters, but it comes down to the facilities costs.

Maybe they are willing to build velodromes to keep the countries that compete well in that particular sport happy. Who is going to complain about softball's absence in addition to us, Japan and Australia or Canada. Many of the other teams are loaded with American players whose heritage may lie in those countries.

The moment you attach yourself to Baseball, because of exposure, you define higher level of the sport as the MLB. Let's no kid ourselves, softball is tacked on for gender equity issues.

My problem with the whole situation is: Why embark on this Odyssey before you had insurance from MLB that their players would be released to go to the Olympics? Are you just putting up a front and raking up your frequent flyer miles knowing full well that your chances are nil because you are not fulfilling the main prerequisite needed.

This picture of the Athens stadium is heartbreaking also.

[MTR]

To start, MLB has never waivered on their stance and anyone who thought something could change their mind is a fool.

Since before it was announced, many people screamed at the top of their lungs that any connection with baseball would be detrimental in helping softball return to the Olympic Games. For god's sake, those on the IOC that would comment admitted they thought baseball and softball was one in the same and voted against softball's inclusion.

I have to believe that baseball sold softball a bill of goods in combining forces. Even the USOC knows that softball's popularity is solid without even the mention of baseball.

While I hope that softball gets back in, I'm not holding my breath. AFA the facilities, it can be costly, but only as much as the unimaginative mind allows it to be. Nothing demands that a stadium be constructed exclusively for softball, nor it be permanent.

I do know that ASA & the NCAA are doing everything they can to get more countries involved including sending coaches and teams overseas to run clinics and play games and NCAA schools hosting and interacting with other national teams during their practices and helping international coaches in the dynamics of running a top program.