After thrilling return in Tokyo, softball's Olympic future is uncertain

Softball players and fans around waited 13 years for their sport to compete on the Olympic stage again, and that wait finally ended when Australia and Japan stepped onto the diamond in Tokyo on July 20.

But with Japan's win over the United States in the gold-medal game just a week later, everyone is left wondering when they’ll see Olympic softball again.

Softball was dropped alongside baseball from the Olympic program after the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, just four Games after it was introduced in 1996. The IOC’s reasoning for eliminating the sports was a lack of popularity outside of the North American region, despite medal wins by Japan, China and Australia across softball’s four-Games run. American players at the time speculated that the decision came because a European nation had never won a medal in the sport.

"We had done our job as a sport world wide to show we belong," said four-time Olympian Lisa Fernandez in 2005 when the decision was announced. "I feel one person, the president of the IOC, a person from Europe, has taken it upon himself to ruin the lives of millions – actually billions – of women."

The United States won the first three gold medals in Olympic softball but lost to Japan at the Beijing Games, so it was fitting for the sport to make its return on the reigning gold medalists’ home turf.

“I think the playing field is really level right now,” Chris Sebren, the Chief Sport Development/Performance Officer for USA Softball said before the Olympics. “The competition is going to be amazing. The back and forth that we've had with Japan, Mexico and Canada over the last few years is strong. Australia's been a part of medaling in every Games. Everybody knows this is their only opportunity, so everybody's out for blood.”

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There was a sense of urgency for teams at the 2020 Games because softball (and baseball) won't be at the Paris Olympics – but will keep other new events introduced in Tokyo including surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing while adding breakdancing to the program.

“We found out a couple of years ago, they weren't going to do it. We were doing our best at that time – we sent our U-19 team over to Europe to play in a challenge and to Ireland,” Sebren said. “We were trying to do our part to showcase the game of softball over in that part of the world, but it is a done deal and we've accepted that.”

Softball’s future in the Olympics beyond the Paris Games is uncertain. Decisions have not been made about the program for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles or the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane, Australia. Because the U.S. and Australia have such strong softball teams, Sebren is hopeful that the sport will return for those Games. He said USA Softball will play a significant role in campaigning, particular for the Los Angeles Games.

“We'll be working through the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and we'll also be reaching out within the U.S. to the powers that be in L.A. and the USOPC to make our case,” he said. “We've got our work to do, but we're going to do our best to communicate the benefits of being a part of those Games and why we should continue to be a part of them on a full-time basis.”

Those benefits include an enormous platform to grow the audience for softball both domestically and abroad. According to a study by researchers at the University of Delaware, women’s sports received the majority of air time on NBC’s Olympic broadcasts at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Games, as well as the 2018 Winter Games.

“NBC, the USOPC, all the other networks getting involved with promoting the Olympics and showcasing all the sports is huge. I think it helps us exponentially,” Sebren said. “It's really important for us to be on that stage and to see our athletes on the different morning shows and whatnot talking about softball and talking about being a part of the Games.”

Team USA pitcher Cat Osterman said showcasing softball on the Olympic stage is important for young athletes who want to see themselves represented in sports.

“There are so many girls who could be playing this sport,” she said. “You don’t have to be a specific type of athlete to be successful. You can be big, strong, short, quick, all different types of athlete and be successful.”

Fernandez competed for all four previous Olympic softball teams and is now an assistant coach at UCLA. The former Team USA standout said that despite concerns about the sport's Olympic future, she was excited for the players who got to experience the Tokyo Games after the long hiatus.

“There is nothing like being an Olympian and having an opportunity to win a gold medal,” she said. “It’s something that happens every four years, it doesn’t happen every year. If you’re not at your very best this one week in time, it’s a wasted four years and this opportunity gets past you. That, to me, is what makes the Olympics so special.”

Nancy Armour contributed reporting to this story.

Contact Emily Adams at eaadams@gannett.com or on Twitter @eaadams6.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Olympic softball faces uncertain future beyond Tokyo Games