Softball wants to return to the Olympic Games on the 2016 program after it missed out by only one vote for the London 2012 Games at the 2005 Session of the International Olympic Committee, hoping recent events will help its return.
Final doping tests for the Beijing Games shows that women’s international softball hasn’t had a single positive doping case since testing began in 1982.
International Softball Federation (ISF) President Don Porter said in a press release, “the grand final at the Olympics last month capped a fantastic two weeks for softball and continued our fine record of having thousands of clean competitors at the highest level of international softball. We’ve always been determined to support the initiatives and values laid out by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and I am proud that our anti-doping initiatives and the integrity of our competitors have maintained our fine record”.
Another plus for the BackSoftball campaign was when the NHK-Japan Broadcasting Corporation confirmed that its ratings for the women’s Olympic softball gold medal game were the highest during the entire Olympics, with the exception of the Opening Ceremony. Japan beat Team USA, the tournament favourites.
Porter said, “Japan’s victory proves how popular softball is becoming around the world and that we are making excellent progress developing and promoting the sport. There has been a huge increase in positive media coverage for our sport this summer and we are determined to continue softball’s growth, and prove to the International Olympic Committee that we deserve to return to the Olympic family”.
According to the press release the Beijing Olympic softball competition was a sell-out and there were “enormous international crowds” and IOC members attending the event at the Fengtai Softball Field.
