Olympics

Baseball became a medal sport at the Summer Olympics beginning in 1992. It had been a demonstration sport in several previous Olympics. The competition is overseen by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF). Baseball and softball were voted out of the 2012 Olympics in London, England, however both might return in the future.

[edit] Demonstration Sport

Baseball was first appeared as part of the Olympics in 1912 in Stockholm, Sweden. It was added to the program as a sport of foreign origin. An American team consiting of track and field athletes played against Sweden's first baseball club Vesterås. At the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany, two American teams played versus each other. Baseball was scheduled to be part of the program at the cancelled 1940 Olympics in Tokyo. The 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland featured a modified form of the baseball called pesäpallo, played between two Finnish teams. The 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia featured an one-game exhibition between an Australian team and an American Army team. The 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan featured a game between a team of collegiate all-stars from the United States and Japan.

Demonstration tournaments for baseball were held at the 1984 in Los Angeles (the only time it was not a sport of foreign origin) and the 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. Eight teams competed in each year; Japan defeated the United States in the final in 1984, and the United States defeated Japan in the 1988 final.

[edit] Medal Sport

Baseball was added as an official event in 1992. It was an eight team tournament consisting of a round-robin, and a four team semifinals and finals. All players were required to be amateurs. In 2000 players were allowed to be professionals.

[edit] 1992 Olympics

The 1992 Olympics were held in Barcelona, Spain. Cuba went 9-0 to capture the gold medal.

Medal	Nation
Gold	Cuba
Silver	Chinese Taipei
Bronze	Japan

[edit] 1996 Olympics

The 1996 Olympics were held in Atlanta, Georgia. Despite the defection of star pitcher Rolando Arrojo shortly before the Olympics began, Cuba again went 9-0 to take the gold.

Medal	Nation
Gold	Cuba
Silver	Japan
Bronze	United States

[edit] 2000 Olympics

The 2000 Olympics were held in Sydney, Australia.

Medal	Nation
Gold	United States
Silver	Cuba
Bronze	South Korea

[edit] 2004 Olympics

The 2004 Olympics were held in Athens, Greece.

Medal	Nation
Gold	Cuba
Silver	Australia
Bronze	Japan

[edit] 2008 Olympics

The 2008 Olympics were held in Beijing, China.

Medal	Nation
Gold	South Korea
Silver	Cuba
Bronze	United States

[edit] 2012 and Beyond

At the 117th IOC meeting, baseball and softball were voted out of the 2012 Olympics. An attempt in 2009 to have the sport reinstated for the 2016 games failed.

[edit] Competiting Nations

Nation	1984 (Demonstration)	1988 (Demonstration)	1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	Olympics	Gold	Silver	Bronze
Australia		T-W3		7	6	S		3	0	1	0
Canada	T-B3	T-W3				4	6	2	0	0	0
People's Republic of China							8	1	0	0	0
Chinese Taipei	3	B4	S			5	5	3	0	1	0
Cuba			G	G	S	G	S	5	3	2	0
Dominican Republic	W4		6					1	0	0	0
Greece						7		1	0	0	0
Italy	W3		7	6	7	8		4	0	0	0
Japan	1	2	B	S	4	B	4	5	0	1	2
South Korea	4	4		8	B		G	3	1	0	1
Netherlands		B3		5	5	6	7	4	0	0	0
Nicaragua	T-B3			4				1	0	0	0
Puerto Rico		3	5					1	0	0	0
South Africa					8			1	0	0	0
Spain			8					1	0	0	0
United States	2	1	4	B	G		B	4	1	0	2