The Council of the Association of IOC Recognized International Sports Federations (ARISF) issued a press release which says they are surprised by the IOC’s announcement at the IOC session that it could reverse its earlier and final decision to exclude baseball and softball from the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
The ARISF Council notes in its press release that the Program Commission’s evaluation that was delivered to the Session by the IOC Executive Board has not been changed since the IOC Session in Singapore, and “therefore any reconsideration of the status of baseball and softball would completely undermine the process initiated by the IOC Executive Board. A new vote on these sports, together with a vote on the recognized sports should only be taken for the 2016 program after a renewed evaluation of every sport on the program, which is due to take place after the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing”.
According to the press release ARISF is ready to discuss the issue with the IOC’s President and the Executive Board and joins in the efforts initiated by the IOC and its Program Commission to develop the Olympic Program to represent the participation and interest “of the youth of the world”.
