After the IOC denied the bid for reinstatement of Baseball into the 2016 Olympic program, Mister Baseball asked IBAF president Dr. Harvey Schiller if this decision will have an influence on the near future of Baseball and if the International Federation needs to do adjustments.
“Baseball is a resilient sport that is growing around the world and will continue to grow. Unlike many sports, it’s year round presence was not just tied to the four year cycle of the Olympics, so although Olympic baseball was important, it was not essential for growth. Don’t forget we were not in for 2012 already so our plans did not have to be altered that much. It does also not change any priorities with support for the World Cup or any other international events, as the Olympics were seven years away and the sport will have achieved many, many new milestones in that period. We are always looking to future growth, are excited about where the game is going for both boys and girls, and we will continue on the positive path the sport is on,” Harvey Schiller, President, IBAF