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| Baseball in the Olympics: an update from IBAF President Harvey Schiller |
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International Baseball Federation President Dr Harvey Schiller has sent a letter to all IBAF member federations outlining the latest position with regard to baseball’s campaign for reinstatement to the Olympic Games.
Dear Colleagues:
I want to take this opportunity to keep you informed of our progress in returning baseball to the Olympic programme following the 2008 Beijing Games.
First, congratulations to the eight participating member countries in this important Olympic competition in Beijing. Canada, Cuba, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, United States and host China have been preparing for the competition these past months. The Beijing Games will be an opportunity for the International Baseball Federation to showcase the sport of baseball to the world. It is important that the games be presented and operates in the best fashion possible.
As you may know, tickets for the baseball competition have sold out since almost immediately after release. We have been working with the Beijing organising committee to insure the competition venues, field conditions, and staffs are prepared for the Olympic event. Our technical representatives, Chet Gray and Paul Seiler, have worked hard this past year to insure a successful competition.
As has been stated before, the International Olympic Committee will be considering additions to the program of the 2016 Olympic Games following the 2016 city election in Copenhagen, Denmark in October 2009. In advance of that vote there will be meetings of the IOC Programme Commission next March and the IOC Executive Board next June. Both will consider a number of factors in review of the sports of squash, rugby, roller sports, karate, softball, golf, and baseball to present to the IOC membership in Copenhagen.
It is unknown whether the Commission or the Board will recommend one or any number of sports for the October vote. In any case, I want to assure you the IBAF leadership and staffs have been working to address the issues which resulted in the removal of baseball from the programme.
Keep Baseball in the Games and I am Baseball are among the initiatives we are working at each and every day to add baseball back to the Olympic programme. We have received the full cooperation of professional organisations including Major League Baseball and the Major League Players Association in addressing the issues of compliance with the World Anti -Doping Administration and participation of the best players in future baseball competitions. We are growing the number of our member organisations, adding women and athletes to our Executive Committee, conducting the 2009 World Cup across Europe, supporting women’s baseball in a variety of ways, developing our sport through coaching, clinics, and equipment, growing marketing and media, coordinating plans with the 2016 candidate cities and taking a leadership position in sport around the globe. The 2009 World Baseball Classic will play first round games at non-United States locations in Tokyo, San Juan, Mexico City and Toronto. In addition, we hope to increase the number of participating countries from 16 in 2009 to 32 for the 2013 competition. These are only a few of the initiatives your IBAF is doing to return baseball to the Olympic Games.
To be successful in this effort, we need the full support of every individual and organisation involved in baseball: from fan to professional, all are important to our future success. It is important that YOU do everything possible to move baseball forward. We need maximum involvement in this effort. Continue to grow the game of baseball in your area, work with media to advertise baseball, and insure sport leaders are invited to your events. All efforts must comply with IOC guidelines regarding contact with IOC members. The general rule allows contact with members based on previous relationships and confined to your country.
Our sport is now more relevant and more global than ever before. That’s our message! Secretary General John Ostermeyer and I will be contacting you in the near future to discuss your involvement in all of our efforts. We look forward to discussing with you ideas and programmes that will support the return of baseball to the Olympic programme as well as grow our game to new heights.
I hope to be with you again soon.
With best regards,
Harvey W Schiller
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