The International Softball Federation (ISF) has officially launched a bid for the sport to be included in the Olympic program for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games because the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted the sport, and baseball, off the 2012 program in 2005 because of a lack of global appeal and reach.
Both sports are still part of the Beijing 2008 Games.
ISF President Don Porter said in a statement, “we have taken the first step to ensure that softball and its athletes will be an integral part of the Olympic Games in 2016 and beyond. Softball narrowly failed to make the 2012 Olympic Program by one vote at the IOC Session in Singapore in 2005. We intend to use softball’s participation in the Olympic Program at the 2008 Beijing Games to emphasize the sport’s worldwide popularity and appeal”.
