WBSC 2020 Bid Dented after MLB Decide Against Interrupting Season

The World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) bid for inclusion in the 2020 Olympics has taken a hit after Major League Baseball (MLB) announced that they have decided against changing their season which would have led top players compete in the Olympics.

Baseball and softball have launched a joint bid to win back their spot on the Olympic program after losing it for the 2012 London Olympics and the the inclusion of top players would have boosted their bid as the The International Olympic Committee (IOC) want the best players to compete at each sport.

While MLB Commissioner Selig supports the bid, he said MLB will not interrupt its April-October season to make top professionals available.

“It just isn’t possible. I wish it was,” Selig told the Baseball Writers Association of America on Tuesday.

“I love the idea of baseball in the Olympics, I love the internationalization. We’ve told them (IOC) that directly.”

NBA players are currently allowed to play in the Olympics because it does not clash with the NBA season while the NHL takes a mid-season break to allow its players to appear at the Winter Olympics but Selig said it was impractical for baseball because it would mean shutting down the season for over three weeks just before the playoffs.

“People would think you’re crazy. You can’t do that,” Selig said.

“First of all, we’d be playing to (U.S.) Thanksgiving, maybe December 1, and secondly … some teams would have to give up players (while) other teams would sit around for three and a half weeks.”

The WBSC reiterated they have the full support of the MLB and that their new format will mean the sport will be unnafected by MLB’s decision.

They said in a statement: “We have the full and unwavering support of the MLB and all the pro leagues around the world. They are fully behind our campaign to include baseball and softball in the Olympic Programme – and they are supporting us in numerous substantial ways.

“With the WBSC’s innovative new format for Olympic Baseball – a six day tournament with eight international teams – there is no need to shut down the MLB season for professional participation.  We will work together with all the professional leagues to find creative scheduling solutions to avoid any conflict with the Olympic championship games, but we have seven years to find the right formula.”

Baseball/softball are competing against Wrestling and Squash for readmission in 2020. The decision will be made in September at the 125th IOC Session meeting.

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