Olympic Softball

Softball has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1996.¹ Eight 15-member women's teams compete for a single set of medals.²

On July 11, 2005, the International Olympic Committee voted to discontinue softball as an Olympic sport, starting at the 2012 Olympics in London.³

Fast Facts

1. Introduced in 1996¹
2. Scheduled to be discontinued following the 2008 Beijing Summer Games³
3. Eight 15-member teams compete for one set of medals²
4. Each team plays seven preliminary games, then the top four teams advance to the playoffs⁴
5. Governed by the International Softball Federation⁵

History

On June 13, 1991, the International Olympic Committee voted to introduce softball as a full medal sport, starting at the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta, Georgia. The United States women's softball team has dominated the sport since its inception, winning gold medals in 1996, 2000 and 2004.⁶

Softball at the 2008 Summer Olympics

At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, softball events were held from August 12 to August 21, 2008 at the Fengtai Softball Field.⁷ Australia lost to Japan on August 20 to win the bronze medal. Japan defeated the U.S. team for the gold medal in the finals on August 21.⁸

Related Pages on Mahalo

Softball | Olympics | Summer Olympics| Summer Olympics 2008 | US Olympic Softball 2008 | International Olympic Committee | How to Play Softball

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