Softball & Olympics

International Softball Federation (ISF) President Don Porter is thinking positively about softball being a possible entry in the 2020 Olympic games. 


However, softball must contend with eight rival sports vying for a single opening. Other sports under consideration are karate, roller sports, sports climbing, squash, wakeboard, wushu, and baseball. 


The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will meet in Buenos Aires, Argentina, this year to decide on the 2020 Games program.

“Without question we are thrilled to have softball on the IOC’s shortlist for the candidate sports for 2020,” Porter said. “That being said, the real victory, of course, would be a decision in our favor come 2013 when the vote is taken on which sport the IOC will add for the Summer Olympics.” Full story at http://www.ncaa.com/news/softball/2011-07-19/history-lesson

Olympic softball timeline...

1996, ATLANTA, Georgia: softball debuts as an Olympic sport. USA defeats China 3-1 to win Gold, after 8-1 record, losing only to Australia in pool play. USA WINS GOLD.

Jennie Finch in Red, White and Blue USA uniform.

2000, SYDNEY, Australia, games: USA has pre-Olympic 112-game winning streak ended in three consecutive losses of 2-1 to Japan, 2-0 to China, and 2-1 to the host Australians in round-robin play. Then USA rebounded with five consecutive victories, finally beating Japan in the gold-medal game. USA WINS GOLD.

2004, ATHENS, Greece, games: USA goes 9-0 record, setting 11 Olympic records, including team high marks for doubles (11), triples (3), RBI (46), runs scored (51), fewest runs allowed (1), stolen bases (8), shutouts (8), consecutive wins (9), team slugging percentage (.559), hits (73), lowest ERA (0.12) and most wins (9). USA WINS GOLD. 

2005: IOC vote removes softball from 2012 London Games.

2008, BEIJING, China, games: Cat Osterman pitches no-hitter and Monica Abbott throws a perfect game in round-robin contests. Then, USA faces Japan for Gold, where Japanese Yukiko Ueno pitches brilliantly. JAPAN WINS GOLD! CLICK HERE for video highlights of this exciting game.

2009: ISF's “Back Softball” fails in bid to return softball to 2016 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, games. 

2011: ISF learns softball to be on IOC’s short list for reconsidering softball for Olympic games.

2012, LONDON, England, games: softball is no longer be part of Olympics.

2013: ISF plans presentation to IOC for including softball in 2020 Olympics, according to ISF President Don Porter.

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USA TEAM PROMOTIONAL VIDEO from last Olympics played...