The possibility of participating in the U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) players in baseball, which seeks to return to the Olympic official event, has been raised. 토토사이트
Japan’s Kyodo News quoted WBSC (World Baseball Softball Federation) President Ricardo Prakari, who attended the IOC (International Olympic Committee) executive committee in Mumbai, India on the 14th, saying, “MLB players will participate if baseball is confirmed to return to the official event at the LA Olympics, and the players’ union has agreed to this.”
Baseball – softball was adopted as an Olympic demonstration event at the 1984 Los Angeles Games and became an official event at the 1992 Barcelona Games. However, it was excluded from the official event after the 2008 Beijing Games and was held for a limited time at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She has been excluded again from the 2024 Paris Games. The IOC has constantly demanded MLB players to participate, but the MLB Secretariat has continued to prohibit them. MLB has held the WBC (World Baseball Classic) instead of participating in the Olympics and has played six tournaments so far this year.
After LA succeeded in hosting, the possibility of baseball’s return to the Olympics was highly expected. In addition to the 28 official events, there are five events for the host country to choose from. It was believed that baseball, one of the country’s four major sports along with American football, ice hockey, and basketball, would be chosen by the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee. President Prakari said, “Baseball is the top candidate for the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee.”
If baseball is allowed to return to official events and recruit MLB players, we can also expect Kim Ha-sung (San Diego Padres) and Shohei Ohtani (LA Angels) to face off. However, due to the nature of the Olympics held during the season, the key is whether the MLB Secretariat and the players’ union will respond to the recruitment of players. Kyodo News said, “MLB is in the process of suspending the season during the Olympics.”
The official event of the LA Olympics will be decided at the IOC General Assembly in Mumbai from the 15th to the 17th.