Mens & Womens FP in Olympics

[dustyshoes]

I was reading one of those website articles about the Olympics that stated that a big reason the IOC is giving FP the boot is due to US dominance of the sport. So why not include a version of the same sport that the US is unlikely to dominate, Mens FP? Since baseball will never draw the worlds best players to Olympic play due to the MLB season why not replace it with mens FP? Sure, the US women would still dominate for awhile but that would be balanced by international domination of mens FP and draw more overall interest in the sport.

Anyone here ever see or play mens FP? DD's coach who used to play FP said that in places like New Zealand FP is huge and nobody plays baseball. Just wondering if this idea has ever been thrown out and discussed.

[Martin]

I think there are more problems than just US dominance. If that was the sole issue, basketball would never have taken root. Major problems to be overcome are:

1. It requires a purpose-built facility that cannot be used for any other sport. This is crucial as the IOC looks to reduce the costs of hosting the games. Fencing, synchronized swimming, water polo, and many other sports can make use of facilities built for other Olympic sports. Also, the facility they play in can easily be converted to other uses by the host city once the games are finished.

2. Only eight countries compete in the tournament. Most other olympic sports allow for much greater participation.

3. Despite your suggestion above, baseball is far more popular around the world than fastpitch, to include in the USA. MLB superstars may not compete in the Olympics, but the sport will still sell far more tickets, earn far better TV ratings, and earn far more sponsorship money than fastpitch.

So Olympics organizers ask themselves this question: why should they host a sport that requires a specific facility that cannot be used for any other sport nor can be easily converted by the host city after the games so that eight countries can compete in a sport that will not receive good ratings, or generate significant income and in which the gold medal is a foregone conclusion?

Bottom Line: Support your NPF team. If we're ever going to see the elites play, it will be there and at the World Cup of Fastpitch tournament.

[MTR]

I think there are more problems than just US dominance. If that was the sole issue, basketball would never have taken root.

You are correct, dominance is not the issue.

1. It requires a purpose-built facility that cannot be used for any other sport. This is crucial as the IOC looks to reduce the costs of hosting the games. Fencing, synchronized swimming, water polo, and many other sports can make use of facilities built for other Olympic sports. Also, the facility they play in can easily be converted to other uses by the host city once the games are finished.

But that isn't so. Just because softball may be the game, the use of the facility after the Olympics is only limited by the host city's intelligence. A perfect example would be Wembley Stadium in London. If not used as a venue for another sport, it would not be a problem putting a softball field and portable stands inside that facility. AND BEFORE ANYONE DECIDES TO TELL ME HOW WEMBLEY IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THAT, NO KIDDING! This is simply an example of a non-softbal facility's use after the Olympics. However, that would not be a problem in London as they have a very strong baseball and softball environment.

2. Only eight countries compete in the tournament. Most other olympic sports allow for much greater participation.

Well, only 8 qualify. I would have no problem doubling that number and breaking out to two divisions. Actually, that may help.

3. Despite your suggestion above, baseball is far more popular around the world than fastpitch, to include in the USA. MLB superstars may not compete in the Olympics, but the sport will still sell far more tickets, earn far better TV ratings, and earn far more sponsorship money than fastpitch.

Maybe, maybe not. The ISF has more member countries than the IBAF. Softball does pretty well in the ratings when given a slot not in the early AM. And if the real problem with baseball is the lack of superstars, baseball is done and the reasoning is sad.

So Olympics organizers ask themselves this question: why should they host a sport that requires a specific facility that cannot be used for any other sport nor can be easily converted by the host city after the games so that eight countries can compete in a sport that will not receive good ratings, or generate significant income and in which the gold medal is a foregone conclusion?

Bottom Line: Support your NPF team. If we're ever going to see the elites play, it will be there and at the World Cup of Fastpitch tournament.[/quote]