From Paresh Dave
TOKYO (Reuters) – Whereas Japan has achieved its aim of successful gold in baseball and softball because the host of Tokyo 2020, it has a much bigger mission to perform to make the sports activities everlasting members of the Olympic lineup.
No press convention and hardly a dialog on the video games may exit with out acknowledging the fun and worries https://www.reuters.com/life-style/sports activities/softball-one-curve-ends-gold-chase-canada-pitcher- Out- Retirement-2021-07-25, worry and aid https://www.reuters.com/life-style/sports activities/baseball-dominican-republic-take-bronze-first-ever-team-medal-2021-08-07 the by 144 baseball gamers and 90 softball athletes skilled previously 18 muggy days might by no means be felt once more.
Baseball and softball is not going to seem at Paris 2024. However gamers are excited in regards to the alternative to play in entrance of 56,000 folks on the well-known Dodger Stadium for the 2028 Los Angeles Video games.
The Worldwide Olympic Committee will determine the core program 2028 subsequent yr, and the racket ball sports activities might be re-elected for good. If not, the native LA28 organizers may comply with their predecessors in Tokyo and provides the sports activities again as soon as.
The IOC and LA28 mentioned the talks had not began but. Nonetheless, optimism rose amongst athletes and sport officers in Tokyo, as they believed the outcomes confirmed there are contenders all over the world, an necessary think about supporting the IOC.
Each of Japan’s triumphs came visiting the US and had been harking back to the 2 nations’ hegemony over sport.
However Canada turned the fifth nation to ever win a softball medal https://www.reuters.com/life-style/sports activities/softball-canada-win-bronze-by-beating-mexico-3-2-2021-07 -27, bronze and the Dominican Republic the seventh nation with a baseball medal https://www.reuters.com/article/olympics-2020-bsb/update-1-olympics-baseball-dominican-republic-take-bronze-first- ever -team-medal-idUKL8N2PE0C2, additionally bronze. Israel has solely gained one baseball competitors however has confirmed that it’s among the many greatest on the planet https://www.reuters.com/life-style/sports activities/baseball-israels-dejected-us-born-stars-hope-inspire- native-heroes-fill-your-2021-08-03. And efforts proceed to advertise a simplified and fast-paced sport known as “Baseball5” in Africa and the Center East.
The story goes on
With out giving any particular numbers, Riccardo Fraccari, President of the World Baseball Softball Confederation, cited the help offered by social media and the preliminary tv viewership to name Tokyo 2020 a hit.
He mentioned the Video games are in a position to “welcome new followers to our lovely sport and encourage a brand new technology of stars whom we look ahead to competing for gold once more quickly on the Olympics.”
(Reporting by Paresh Dave; Modifying by Michael Perry)
