IBAF President Fraccari committed to Olympic Reinstatement

Written by: Jerry Milani on 9th February 2010

IBAF President Fraccari committed to Olympic Reinstatement | read this item

International baseball went through some highs and lows in 2009, with the quadrennial World Baseball Classic and biennial Baseball World Cup gaining more interest while the sport’s 2016 Olympic bid fell short, with golf and rugby named instead. It was also a big transitional year for the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), which now has a new president, Riccardo Fraccari of Italy, following the end of the term of Dr. Harvey Schiller.

One of Fraccari’s first moves is to revive the movement to reinstate baseball into the Olympics. The Olympic goal is critical to many nations whose baseball programs are still developing, according to Fraccari, and he made a bold statement yesterday on behalf of the sport.

Some key passages:

We are well aware of the obstacles that must be overcome to recapture Olympic status; however, I believe we are ready to effectively deal with such issues as Anti-Doping, participation of the best players, female discipline and global scheduling. Baseball will be able to play a leading role in the Olympic Games within the framework of the Olympic movement.

To better address these matters, the IBAF will create a commission wholly dedicated to baseball’s reinstatement onto the Olympic program.

The commission will be officially established after the Executive Committee meeting that will take place in Rome on February 20.

Whether Major League Baseball fans think that baseball belongs in the Olympics or not, the international growth of the game internationally is in large part hinging on its reinstatement. That’s good enough reason to support Mr. Fraccari’s position. What is yet to be seen is whether the commission will be able to energize the mostly European-based IOC decision makers for 2020 and beyond.

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Topics: Baseball Fans, Baseball Programs, baseball world cup, Bold Statement, Dr Harvey, Dr. Harvey Schiller, Female Discipline, First Moves, Good Enough Reason, Highs And Lows, IBAF, International, Major League Baseball, Olympic Bid, Olympic Goal, Olympic Movement, Olympic Program, Olympic Status, Olympics, Reinstatement, Riccardo Fraccari, World Baseball, World Cup