Baseball and Softball confirmed as part of Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 sports programme
The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) is delighted and honoured that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session has confirmed baseball and softball as part of the sports programme for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.
The
WBSC has been in close dialogue with the IOC and LA28, as well as other keystakeholders, on why baseball and softball would be the perfect addition to thesports programme in Los Angeles.
Bothsports have continued to enjoy global growth since the success of the OlympicGames Tokyo 2020 and are woven into the DNA of the United States. The WBSC isconfident that baseball and softball will contribute to making the OlympicGames LA28 an incredible celebration of sport and unity.
WBSC
President Riccardo Fraccari said: “We are delighted that baseball and softballhave been confirmed as part of the sports programme at the Olympic Games LosAngeles 2028 by the IOC Session.
“The
WBSC firmly believes that baseball and softball will help millions of fansengage with the Olympic Games, especially with USA being home to many of thesports’ best players and biggest stars from across the world. It is going to bean electric atmosphere in LA where the best baseball and softball athletes inthe world will have the opportunity to play on the biggest stage in front of aglobal audience of billions.
“Baseballhas been in the Olympics six times and softball five times and their inclusionin LA28 will excite athletes and fans across the US and around the world,inspiring a new generation of boys and girls to chase Olympic glory.
“Our ongoing efforts to develop baseball and softball globally will continue as we look ahead with much excitement to Baseball5 at the Youth Olympic Games 2026 and baseball/softball in LA28 as well as our ultimate aim of our sport earning a permanent place on the Olympic programme.”
Baseball will feature at an Olympic Games for the seventh time, having first been played at the Olympic Games Barcelona 1992, while it is the sixth time that softball is included on the programme having made its debut at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.
The last edition at Tokyo 2020 saw Japan beat USA in both the baseball and softball finals, creating global media coverage as well as record TV viewing figures for the baseball final.