The Associated Press reports that baseball officials think their sport could have a better chance of getting back into the Olympics now that Barack Obama has been elected President.
San Diego Padres chief executive officer Sandy Alderson said Wednesday, “if the perception internationally of the United States improves by virtue of his election, then I think the U.S. stature in international sport of every type will be enhanced. I don’t think the United States has the international stature in sport that is once had”.
Baseball and softball were dropped from the Olympics in July 2005 following the 2008 Beijing Games. International Softball Federation president Don Porter said at the time, “I think anti-Americanism was a factor”.
Mark Shapiro, Cleveland Indians General Manager said, “I think clearly how the world looks at America is going to be different with Barack Obama in the White House, and that will be initial. And then how he leads and how he governs will determine how they look at us over a sustained period”.
Jimmie Lee Solomon, executive vice president for baseball operations in the commissioner’s office said, “I think it’s a great opportunity for us to get back in. I don’t know if the election in and of itself would do it. We’ve got some big problems”.
Baseball’s chief operating officer Bob DuPuy said, “I think what will help us get back in the Olympics is to get the IOC to understand that baseball is a global sport with significant appeal and that any other reservation about (it) is a red herring”.
International Baseball Federation president Harvey Schiller is making a presentation to the IOC on November 14 in Lausanne Switzerland.
