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IOC acts on doping crisis; backs 5 sports for 2020 Tokyo Games

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I think it is time to cancel this event and save a lot of headaches and for sure a lot of debt.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Agree, the Olympics has lost it's way amid the scramble for profits. It's ideals have long been lost. It is a concept that has outlived it's usefulness as a chance for the world to unite in the "Olympic Spirit".

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Now the Flowerly Ladies Softball team and Blue-Boys Baseball team will soon start ramping up the propaganda machines to urge the country on to gold medals.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

the flowery ladies are the women's soccer team, the softball team is the one that beat the US for gold in Beijing. it will be good to have baseball and softball back in the Olympics. the only reason it was taken out was because the Brits were too lazy to learn the rules and didn't want to embarrass themselves on home soil.

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

the only reason it was taken out was because the Brits were too lazy to learn the rules and didn't want to embarrass themselves on home soil.

And because men play cricket. Rounders, as we call its original form, is for the ladies.

Karate is in! But what type? I hope they include full contact.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

I think Japan already included this in their list of medals that feel they are entitled to, so thye must be relieved.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Cricket is a woosy women's game. My men play major league baseball.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Baseball

the only reason it was taken out was because

there are only 6 teams in the world that can make a somewhat interesting tournament. It isn't that popular and there is no women's event of the sport. They changed the rules to include it again at the behest of the Japanese hosts.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

**the only reason it was taken out was because the Brits were too lazy to learn the rules and didn't want to embarrass themselves on home soil. No the reason it was taken out because other than America/Japan hardly anybody else plays the game. bit like introducing American football to the Olympics. Much more international games like Cricket or Rugby would be a far better introduction to the Olympics.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Stickman1760: " the only reason it was taken out was because the Brits were too lazy to learn the rules and didn't want to embarrass themselves on home soil."

No, it was rightfully removed because it has no place being an international event when there are VERY few teams (countries) that play it, and even then only a few that make the tournament worthwhile. That's why it's so funny when they name the... what is it now? 6 or 7 baseball tournaments they have?... "World Baseball...". Nearly as funny a misnomer as "Miss Universe Japan".

Japan wants it in because it is always a medal contender and so makes them look better. wtfjapan is right, as is timtak, that cricket is a far better contender, and played in far more nations, as would be rugby. The only thing that'll be worth it is when Japan, overconfident, loses again to South Korea and they try to shut down the final match and all broadcasting after.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

According to the International Baseball Federation, baseball is played in 122 countries whereas according to the International Cricket Council, cricket is played in 105 countries. So, no, cricket is not played in "far more nations."

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Whether openly acknowledged or not - a major reason for the removal of baseball (& unfortunately softball) was the, at the time, a much laxer drug / illegal substance policy by MLB. Under scrutiny, the breadth of and the intensiveness of the testing regime was not on par with the olympics substantially more severe rules & checking.

Now, almost a decade on, doping and drugs in sports are much more under the spotlight and MLB has been seen to come to the party to some extent.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

the only reason it was taken out was because the Brits were too lazy to learn the rules and didn't want to embarrass themselves on home soil.

So to have it taken out cos the UK was hosting is wrong, but to put it back in because the Japanese will be hosting is OK in your book? Besides, as has already been pointed out, cricket is more deserving of a place. It's the second most watched sport in the world, ranked only after football. And when I say football, I mean Association Football, because I'm a lazy Brit that can't be bothered to learn the rules of YET ANOTHER game we invented.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

State facts and get down-voted. Gotta love JT

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

it will be good to have baseball and softball back in the Olympics. the only reason it was taken out was because the Brits were too lazy to learn the rules and didn't want to embarrass themselves on home soil.

..along with the 186 Olympic countries that dont play baseball. There are 204 Olympic nations, making baseball an Olympic sport played by 8% of Olympic countries.

wtfjapan is right, as is timtak, that cricket is a far better contender, and played in far more nations, as would be rugby. The only thing that'll be worth it is when Japan, overconfident, loses again to South Korea and they try to shut down the final match and all broadcasting after.

Goodness. I almost became best buddies with smith here. Unfortunately Korea only have 1 Olympic Gold, 1 Bronze and a WBC silver to boast about. Japan have 2 WBC world championships, an Olympics Silver and 2 Olympics Bronze. I'd say Japan had more to boast about. I wonder how long Korean broadcasting went on for after the Ichiro WBC final win over the Koreans? Remember the Korean flag-on-the-mound celebrations in a round game? How embarrassing was that when the team you celebrated against rubbed your noses in it in the final.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

So, no, cricket is not played in "far more nations." comon countries that count, baseball is played in Fiji but that doesn't make a truly global sport, the world series Baseball LOL almost entirely played by American teams. If you want to count numbers, cricket is almost a religion in countries like India/Pakistan and the people it covers is about 1.4billion! and growing. baseball doesn't even come close. And as India economy and people become richer Ccricket will become far far wealthier and cover more countries than ever. the growth potential of Cricket has far more potential than baseball

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

kickboard: "According to the International Baseball Federation, baseball is played in 122 countries whereas according to the International Cricket Council, cricket is played in 105 countries. So, no, cricket is not played in "far more nations.""

Yeah, and how many of those countries take part in international compeitions, my friend? There's a reason it was stopped, and it was most certainly because of a lack of attendance and the fact that internationally it is not really a sport people actively participate in at a professional level. Yes, CHILDREN play baseball in a number of nations that never enter into the sport professionally... then they grow up. Cricket, on the other hand, as an example, is played the world over at the professional level. Next you'll be saying baseball is as much an international sport as soccer because they have near the same level of countries playing.

TokyoTigersDome: "Goodness. I almost became best buddies with smith here. Unfortunately Korea only have 1 Olympic Gold, 1 Bronze and a WBC silver to boast about. Japan have 2 WBC world championships, an Olympics Silver and 2 Olympics Bronze."

Sorry, how many Olympic golds is that again? I remember how funny it was when Japanese talked about how much more important gold medals were in terms of meaning... until they lost... then lost again. Then when they won the first ever, completely unnecessary WBC (again, I laugh at the "world" part!), that suddenly became the standard measure of which team is best... until the most recent competition... until they lost again.

" I wonder how long Korean broadcasting went on for after the Ichiro WBC final win over the Koreans?"

And where was that held? If they cut broadcasting after, as Japan does, as the US often does (though you can find it elsewhere), and other nations do when their pride is stung, one thing they do NOT do is cut off broadcasting when they are the HOST NATION, as Japan did last year. What's more, they most CERTAINLY do not have separate ceremonies for themselves because they cannot bear to attend the gold and silver medal ceremony out of shame of losing. Sorry, bud, NOTHING tops that for poor sportsmanship. NOTHING. So, yes, I look forward to when Japan loses again in Tokyo, and to the extremely embarrasing and shameful reactions.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

And where was that held? If they cut broadcasting after, as Japan does, as the US often does (though you can find it elsewhere), and other nations do when their pride is stung, one thing they do NOT do is cut off broadcasting when they are the HOST NATION, as Japan did last year. What's more, they most CERTAINLY do not have separate ceremonies for themselves because they cannot bear to attend the gold and silver medal ceremony out of shame of losing. Sorry, bud, NOTHING tops that for poor sportsmanship. NOTHING. So, yes, I look forward to when Japan loses again in Tokyo, and to the extremely embarrasing and shameful reactions.

Wow. Some real unmanaged anti-Japanese issues.

The WBC is the baseball World championships regardless of your single unqualified opinion. Just because kankoku have never won it doesnt mean it no longer counts. Celebrating a round game with your flag on the mound is really embarrassing when you get beat in the game that really counts.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

TigersTokyoDome: "The WBC is the baseball World championships regardless of your single unqualified opinion. "

The Olympics have been around far longer than the WBC, which was made up by countries that dominate in the sport to try and give it and themselves in partiuclar more validity. Hence, the Olympics is by far a better measure of what qualifies as the top of the sport, and as such Japan is simply not as good. That's all there is to it. What's more is that Japan always says what has the most meaning simply based on if THEY have won, then quickly change their statements and assumptions when they lose. People who LITERALLY said the new tournament last year would be the standard of who's best changed it back to the WBC immediately after Japan lost.

Sorry, bud. I know you're upset about the results, but it does not change the facts. .

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

The 2020 Olympics represent the last chance for the old boys to try to rekindle "the spirit of 1964," and to bring some closure to WWII to their advantage, with the Closing Ceremony for the Tokyo Games in four years to be on August 9, the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.

My guess is that most Japanese will be disappointed with the results from the competition as well as the discussion about history. And the colossal waste of money and resources will be felt in the 2020s and perhaps beyond.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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