Baseball and Softball make a comeback in the Olympics
Baseball and Softball will yet again feature in the Olympics that are taking place in Tokyo this summer. After a 12-year absence from the Olympics, Baseball is set to grace the Olympics again this year.
With the upcoming Major League Baseball season, the fans would be hoping to catch more of baseball action in the upcomingSummer Olympics as well. The MLB is set to excite fans all over the world and now betting enthusiasts can find the best MLB Vegas Odds right from the comfort of their homes through the linked-up site. Such sites can help you get the most up-to-date odds for the 2020 MLB regular season.
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The reinstatement of Baseball and Softball
The International Olympics Committee has decided to reinstate Baseball and Softball back in the Olympics. The IOC voted to add baseball and softball to the 2020 Summer Olympics that are going to happen in Tokyo, Japan way back in 2016 after some heavy debates over the years. The two sports last featured in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
A battle to make it to the next Olympics
Team USA website stated in 2019 that the two sports did not make it to the shortlist for the next Summer Olympics that are set to take place in Paris, France in 2024. The reinstation in this year’s Summer Olympics means that there is still hope for the sports to the Olympics in the years to come.
Popularity of Baseball and Softball
The popularity of the sports made the reinstation a possibility back in 2016 when the International Olympics Committee decided to give the two sports a go through in the final roster of sports to be featured. The 2020 Olympics are going to set a precedent as to what is to be expected from the International Olympics Committee. The IOC had to give in to the demands of the fans and sports enthusiasts due to the popularity of the two sports in Japan where the Olympics are set to take place. Japan being a long-time powerhouse of the sport demanded for the reinstatement. The Olympic report stated that Japan’s most watched sport would only increase the focus of the fans on the event and being a major global sport, will increase the popularity of the Olympic Games.
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Players already excited
Softball and Baseball players are already gearing up and training for the Summer Olympics. Most notably, Rachel Garcia of the UCLA who has put her collegiate careers on hold to represent her country in the Summer Olympics. Her college mate, Bubba Nickles has also been packing her bags for Japan. Team USA has chosen fifteen players plus three additional replacements for its squad. Garcia brings flexibility to the squad being a two-way pitcher. Abbot and Osterman are the only ladies who have experience in the Olympic Games and would play a big role in motivating the younger ones. The quality in the squad is set to bear fruits for the USA national team in this year’s Olympics.
