Baseball, softball out of 2016 Olympics

At a meeting in Berlin, the group considered seven sports for the Games, but chose golf and rugby sevens — a faster version of the sport.

The two will be considered for ratification by the 106-member IOC assembly in October. At the same meeting, the IOC will choose a host city for the 2016 Games.

“For us, it’s a heartbreak, it’s a loss,” former UA pitcher Jennie Finch said today.
 Three former Arizona Wildcats — Finch, Caitlin Lowe and Jenae Leles — are currently on the U.S. National team. UA coach Mike Candrea led the team to a silver medal in the 2008 Games.

In 2005, the IOC voted to eliminate both baseball and softball from the 2012 Games in London. The International Softball Federation began a program called “Back Softball,” sending Olympians from three continents to an IOC presentation in June.

U.S. national team coach Jay Miller said his “frustration” stemmed from the fact there was “no objective criteria,” as the selection was made by a committee.

Amateur Softball Association executive director Ron Radigonda said he didn’t think the vote was a protest against Americans or the U.S. Olympic Committee, which recently had a spat with the IOC about a possible television network.

”I don’t think the issues of the USOC and the IOC are in this vote,” he said. “Again, the criteria, and the conversation went on behind closed doors … makes it difficult for us to know how the decision was made.”

Softball’s Olympic future is bleak; with the number of sports capped at 28, one would have to be eliminated for softball to even have another shot at consideration.

Finch, whose international softball career will continue, said “the fight isn’t over” for softball.

“I think our sport is too good not to prevail,” she said.