Softball's return to the Olympic stage after its absence from the Paris 2024 Olympics is set to be short - lived, as it confronts the possibility of being excluded from the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. Despite being one of Australia's most successful team sports, the sport's national federation has expressed concerns that commercial interests may overshadow the Olympic legacy in the selection of Olympic events.
The Brisbane 2032 organising committee confirmed to ABC News this week that the chosen sports must be operationally viable. The selection criteria include gender balance, global representation, popularity, and the ability to generate revenue. Sarah Loh, the chief executive of Softball Australia, told ABC Sport that their association lacks substantial funds. In fact, she said they "basically have no money", which puts softball at a disadvantage in meeting the financial requirements for Olympic inclusion.
After a hiatus, baseball and softball will be a combined gender event at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. These sports, along with lacrosse, squash, cricket, and flag football, are the five new additions to the Olympic programme. However, with the strict selection criteria set by the Brisbane 2032 organising committee, the future of softball in the Olympic Games remains uncertain, leaving the softball community worried about the sport's long - term development in the Olympic context.
