Much to our disappointment, at its recent session, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to exclude baseball from the 2012 London Games. As baseball officials, we must by all means work together to return the sport to the Olympic program to sustain the global development of baseball.

Japan would like to make several proposals to the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) for the reinstatement of baseball in the Olympic Games.

1. Make efforts to show IOC members the reality of baseball.

The Olympic sports are decided by vote by IOC members. However, many of those members are from countries where baseball is not a major sport or from regions that have no association with baseball whatsoever.

Therefore, we must strengthen activities that would further their understanding of baseball. An ideal way would be for each member country to cooperate with IBAF to invite IOC members to various international and national baseball tournaments held throughout the world so that they could experience for themselves the excitement of baseball.

2. Work to discourage IOC members from voting on Olympic candidate cities excluding baseball from the Olympic program.

The elimination of baseball from the London Games has already been decided. Therefore, we must now work to ensure the qualification of baseball in the 2016 Olympic Games and after. We propose approaching each IOC member and calling on them not to vote for candidate cities that are excluding baseball from their Olympic program. IBAF should initiate this movement and approach IOC members through the representatives of each member country.

3. IBAF should establish a project team and launch an organized movement.

Rather than act independently, the IBAF chairman must make organized efforts to clarify the schedule and other issues concerning the reinstatement of baseball.

IBAF should establish a project team comprised of representatives from the five continents and develop a systematic strategy. Upon defining each continent’s role and responsibility, it should pursue the strategy by regularly gathering relevant information from them.

4. The active involvement of a US representative is essential.

The United States is undeniably the world’s leader in baseball. Therefore, in order to return baseball to the Olympics, the active involvement of the United States?namely USA Baseball, an American member of IBAF?is essential. The key lies in whether or not the United States is determined to make serious efforts, including its cooperation with such organizations as Major League Baseball (MLB) and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Masatake Matsuda

President, Baseball Federation of Japan