The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) expressed disappointment at the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to remove baseball and softball from its Olympic program during the 117th IOC Session in Singapore. "The Canadian Olympic Committee regrets that baseball and softball will not remain on the Olympic program beyond the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing," said COC President Michael Chambers. "Canada has a strong history of success in both sports and the removal of baseball and softball certainly adds challenges to Canada's overall pursuit of medal success at future Olympic Games. The Canadian Olympic Committee respects the IOC's right to make this decision. However, it is extremely unfortunate that two sports which are so much a part of the sporting culture in Canada have been removed from the Olympic program." Chambers went on to add, "Compounding our disappointment with the IOC's decision, was its following decision not to add the recommended sports of karate and squash to the 2012 Olympic Games program, leaving the program for 2012 with only 26 sports, two shy of the 28 sport limit." Baseball and softball will continue to remain as members of the COC as the sports prepare for the 2008 Olympic Games.
