Venezuelan Olympic Committee President and
softball legend Maria Soto emphasised the importance of having baseball and
softball on the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) sports programme during a
meeting with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Friday.
NOC President Soto visited President Bach at the Olympic House in Lausanne, where she become the first softball Olympian to sign the athletes wall and received a World Olympians Certificate of Recognition.
In 2022, she became the first female to be
elected as president of the NOC, while Venezuela is currently the only country
with two female Olympians in the positions of president and secretary general. Soto
competed at Beijing 2008, while Secretary General Katiuska Santaella competed
in judo at Atlanta 1996.
Softball has featured on the Olympic programme five times since its debut in Atlanta in 1996, while baseball has been played in six Games (in addition to seven editions as a demonstration sport), and Soto reiterated her belief that the popularity of the sports both in the United States and worldwide means it is vital they are included on LA28’s programme.
“It was an honour for me to speak with IOC
President Bach at the Olympic House and have the chance to emphasise the
importance of having baseball and softball at LA28,” President Soto said. “Softball
is one of the most popular sports in the United States and in many Latin
American countries as well as around the world, and I believe that it would
increase engagement with the Olympic Games in our region and globally.
“Including it on the programme will inspire
thousands of girls and women to take up the sport and help continue its growth
across the globe. Beijing 2008 was a highlight of my career and I want other
softball and baseball players around the world to experience the incredible
atmosphere of an Olympic Games.”
