Revisiting the earlier announcement about the elimination of Softball and Baseball from the Olympics. The vote count – – though not the identity of the voters — is in. The vote was 52 in favor and 52 against, with one abstention, the United States delegate, Jim Easton. Four of the 52 that voted against softball were quoted as being “confused”, thinking that they were voting against baseball, not softball. (See story below).
From the Softball Canada website, citing a Los Angeles Times newstory.
Alan Abrahamson, Times Staff Writer, August 27th, 2005
Copyright 2005 Los Angeles TimesSoftball’s ouster from the Olympics last month came by one vote, according to totals made public Friday, and U.S. sports officials and softball leaders expressed hope that it could be restored for the 2012 London Games.
With 105 ballots distributed for the July 8 vote in Singapore, softball needed a simple majority of 53 to stay on the Olympic program. With an unidentified delegate abstaining, the 104 votes were evenly split, 52-52, ousting the sport.
The International Olympic Committee released the vote count to International Softball Federation officials, who had made a special plea to obtain it. No names were included.
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