Softball at the Summer Olympics
Encyclopedia
Softball
was introduced as an Olympic sport for women (only) in the 1996 Summer Olympics
. On July 11, 2005, the IOC voted to drop baseball
and softball from the Olympic program for 2012
, a decision that was reaffirmed on February 9, 2006. It was officially decided in August 2009 at IOC Board meeting in Berlin that it will not be included in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
On April 1, 2011, the International Softball Federation
and International Baseball Federation
announced they were preparing a joint proposal to revive play of both sports at the 2020 Summer Olympics
.
However, in August 2011 the Olympic news outlet Around the Rings reported that according to ISF president Don Porter, the ISF and the IBAF will not rush into an Olympic proposal. "In my discussions with the IOC, I was informed it’s not an urgent decision that we have to make today, tomorrow, next month or even next year," he said. "We haven’t completely said no, but we are waiting to see what our overall membership thinks about whether it’s to our advantage to be working together."
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
was introduced as an Olympic sport for women (only) in the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. On July 11, 2005, the IOC voted to drop baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and softball from the Olympic program for 2012
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
, a decision that was reaffirmed on February 9, 2006. It was officially decided in August 2009 at IOC Board meeting in Berlin that it will not be included in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
On April 1, 2011, the International Softball Federation
International Softball Federation
thumb|Map of member states.|400px|rightThe International Softball Federation is the international governing body for the sport of softball. The ISF is a non-profit corporation recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the General Association of International Sports Federations .The...
and International Baseball Federation
International Baseball Federation
The International Baseball Federation is the worldwide governing body recognized by the International Olympic Committee as overseeing, deciding and executing the policy of the bat-and-ball sport of baseball at the international level...
announced they were preparing a joint proposal to revive play of both sports at the 2020 Summer Olympics
2020 Summer Olympics
The 2020 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXII Olympiad, will be a major international sports and cultural festival, celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games....
.
However, in August 2011 the Olympic news outlet Around the Rings reported that according to ISF president Don Porter, the ISF and the IBAF will not rush into an Olympic proposal. "In my discussions with the IOC, I was informed it’s not an urgent decision that we have to make today, tomorrow, next month or even next year," he said. "We haven’t completely said no, but we are waiting to see what our overall membership thinks about whether it’s to our advantage to be working together."
Medal table
| 1 |  United States |
3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 2 |  Japan |
1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 3 |  Australia |
0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 4 |  People's Republic of China |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Medalists
| 1996 Atlanta Softball at the 1996 Summer Olympics Softball made its first appearance as an official medal sport at the 1996 Summer Olympics. The competition was held at historic Golden Park in Columbus, Georgia. Final results for the Softball competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics:-Medal summary:... |
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| 2000 Sydney Softball at the 2000 Summer Olympics -Medals:-Schedule:Starting September 17, there will be four preliminary games each day until September 23 for a total of 28 games.Two semi-final games played September 25, with the game for third place same day. The final game for the gold medal played on September 26 at 7:30pm local... |
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| 2004 Athens Softball at the 2004 Summer Olympics Softball at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held at the Olympic Softball Stadium in the Helliniko Olympic Complex from August 14 to 23. The United States won the gold while Australia took silver and Japan , the bronze.... |
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| 2008 Beijing Softball at the 2008 Summer Olympics Softball at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing took place over a ten day period starting August 12 and culminating in the medal finals on August 21. All games were played at the Fengtai Softball Field... |
Participating Nations
| Nation | 1996 Softball at the 1996 Summer Olympics Softball made its first appearance as an official medal sport at the 1996 Summer Olympics. The competition was held at historic Golden Park in Columbus, Georgia. Final results for the Softball competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics:-Medal summary:... | 2000 Softball at the 2000 Summer Olympics -Medals:-Schedule:Starting September 17, there will be four preliminary games each day until September 23 for a total of 28 games.Two semi-final games played September 25, with the game for third place same day. The final game for the gold medal played on September 26 at 7:30pm local... | 2004 Softball at the 2004 Summer Olympics Softball at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held at the Olympic Softball Stadium in the Helliniko Olympic Complex from August 14 to 23. The United States won the gold while Australia took silver and Japan , the bronze.... | 2008 Softball at the 2008 Summer Olympics Softball at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing took place over a ten day period starting August 12 and culminating in the medal finals on August 21. All games were played at the Fengtai Softball Field... | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia |
3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
 Canada |
5 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| People's Republic of China |
2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
 Chinese Taipei |
6 | - | 6 | 6 | 3 |
 Cuba |
- | 7 | - | - | 1 |
 Greece |
- | - | 7 | - | 1 |
| Japan |
4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
 Italy |
- | 5 | 8 | - | 2 |
 Netherlands |
7 | - | - | 8 | 2 |
 New Zealand |
- | 6 | - | - | 1 |
 Puerto Rico |
8 | - | - | - | 1 |
| United States |
1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
 Venezuela |
- | - | - | 7 | 1 |
| Total Nations | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |