The International Baseball Federation (IBAF) updated the world-wide audience on its website www.ibaf.org the last couple of days about several Olympics-related stories after Dr. Harvey Schiller’s visit to Japan. Let’s do a short roundup.
IBAF.org: IBAF President Meets with Japanese Media about Olympic Future
Dr. Harvey Schiller, president of the IBAF, travelled to Japan this week to speak with the Japanese Baseball Federation, the Japanese Olympic Committee and the organizers of the Tokyo 2016 Olympics bid.
An excerpt from The Mainischi Shimbun:
IBAF President Schiller who visited Japan to promote the drive to reinstate baseball in 2016 Summer Olympic Games, held a joint press conference at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan in Tokyo and revealed that in order to have MLB players participate in the Olympics, IBAF is proposing a plan to shorten the duration of the tournament from the previous 11 days to 5 days. In addition, “I have requested all the owners to send their best players to the Olympics. I am confident about it.” said he.
IBAF.org: Seven Sports submit Proposals for 2016 Olympics
Together with five other sports, Baseball and Softball delivered questionnaires to the IOC this week. The seven compete for a maximum of two openings on the 2016 program. The IOC program commission of the IOC will evaluate the proposals and submit a preliminary report to the executive board in June.
A quote from the AP-article:
Softball, meanwhile, continues to distance itself from baseball, stressing that its best players all go to the Olympics and that the sport has had no positive doping tests at the elite level.
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The International Softball Federation also says the women’s sport is growing in popularity around the world, including in developing and Middle East countries where female participation in team sports is rare.
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“These are crucial times for softball and we are convinced that we adhere closely to the values which reflect the Olympic movement,” ISF president Don Porter said.
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The International Baseball Federation insists its Olympic hopes should not be hurt by the high-profile doping controversies in Major League Baseball involving such stars as Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.
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“Despite some of the recent headlines, baseball as a sport has never been better positioned globally for success,” IBAF president Harvey Schiller said.
IBAF.org: IBAF makes Games pitch
In another article about Dr. Harvey Schiller’s trip to Japan, the IBAF president hopes that there will be a definite statement from Major League Baseball until June to bring the best players to the 2016 Olympics. Additionally the Japanese IOC vice president Chiharu Igaya was quoted that he will lobby for Baseball’s reinstatement.
His quote in the Daily Yomiuri:
Until then, IOC vice president Chiharu Igaya will be bending committee members’ ears on the subject of baseball.
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“In March, I’ll be going overseas four times for various meetings and I’ll use every opportunity to speak to each individual member and explain what kind of a sport baseball is and what its appeal is,” said Igaya, a silver medal-winning alpine skier.
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Igaya, who said he was “instrumental” in getting baseball into the Olympics 20 years ago, is considering possible arguments to put baseball ahead of its rivals.
IBAF.org: IBAF says MLB won’t have to stop for Olympics
The International Herald Tribune also reported from Dr. Harvey Schiller’s visit in Tokyo. The article focuses about a possible MLB participation in the Olympic Baseball tournament.
Quote:
Schiller said the IBAF has several proposals on the table that would allow MLB players to take part, including cramming the entire competition into five days.
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“Baseball is a big business and you don’t have to shut it down to have the best players in the Olympics,” Schiller said Thursday. “Just as the Premier League doesn’t stop playing football.”
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“We’ve proposed a short 5-day tournament similar to what was done by ice hockey where the best players were in the Olympics,” said Schiller.
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MLB commissioner Bud Selig said recently the major leagues would be flexible but would not stop their season for two-and-a-half or three weeks in August so go to the Olympics.
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“The commissioner and his staff and the players’ association have been very cooperative,” said Schiller. “I can’t challenge the kind of cooperation I’ve been getting.”