Non-Olympic Sports

Jackie Chan pitches up in support of baseball-softball Olympic bid

By Gary Anderson

By Gary Anderson

August 13 - Martial arts movie legend Jackie Chan has added his support to the World Baseball Softball Confederation's (WBSC) campaign to get the sports back on the Olympic programme for the 2020 Games.

PSA Hire Tim Garner to boost European Tour ahead of 2020 bid

By Nick Butler

By Nick Butler

August 7 - The Professional Squash Association (PSA) has named former England international Tim Garner as its European representative in its latest move to boost the sport ahead of its vote for inclusion in the 2020 Olympic Games.

Record drugs bans will "boost" baseball-softball Olympic bid, claim WBSC officials

By James Crook

August 6 - A record drugs ban imposed on Alex Rodriguez, baseball's highest paid star, has improved the sport's chance of winning back its place on the Olympic programme, it was claimed today.

Softball's success at World Games gives timely boost ahead of 2020 Olympic decision

By Gary Anderson

By Gary Anderson

August 2 - Softball officials claim that the success of the sport at the World Games in Cali has given its campaign to become part of the 2020 Olympic programme a massive boost.

Squashercise proves to be a big hit with the ladies

By Gary Anderson

By Gary Anderson at the Wimbledon Lakeside Squash Club in London

July 31 - Former England professional squash player James Powley put a group of enthusiastic women, including reality television star Cheska Hull, through their paces during a new fitness class called "Squashercise" at the Wimbledon Lakeside Squash Club today.

WBSC host "biggest-ever Youth World Championships" in front of sell-out crowd in Chinese Taipei

By James Crook

July 28 - The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) have successfully held what they claim to be the "largest youth championships in world sport" as more than 10,000 fans packed into the Tianmu Stadium for the final of the unisex under-12 Baseball World Cup in Chinese Taipei.

USA-Cuba baseball friendship series shows Olympic spirit of unity through sport, says Castro Junior

By James Crook

July 26 - Antonio Castro, the son of Cuba's former leader Fidel, has hailed the baseball friendship series between Cuba and the United States for encouraging unity through sport in the same spirit as the Olympics, claiming its success has made officials even more determined to get the sport back on the Games programme.

Play Ball 2020 comes to the UK for opening of first dedicated baseball-softball facility

By James Crook

July 18 - The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Play Ball 2020 campaign is set to travel to the United Kingdom for the opening of the nation's first dedicated baseball and softball facility.

Rotterdam to play host to new PSA World Tour event

By Gary Anderson

By Gary Anderson

July 18 - Rotterdam is to host a new Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Tour event which is due to take place at the Victoria squash club from August 27 to September 1.

Baseball-softball refuse to give up on MLB players for Olympics despite season break setback

By James Crook

July 17- Baseball and softball are still hopeful of striking a deal to release Major League Baseball (MLB) players for the Olympics should the sports gain a place on the programme, despite MLB commissioner Bud Selig ruling out the possibility of a season break.

Softball President hopes to atone for “letting athletes down” by getting sport back in Olympics

By James Crook at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City

July 14 - International Softball Federation (ISF) President and World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) co-President Don Porter has vowed to do all he can to make up for the pain of the bat and ball sports being dropped from the Olympic programme.

Japan strike gold over hosts US to win first World Cup of Softball title in eight years

By James Crook at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City

July 14 - Japan secured their first World Cup of Softball title since the inaugural tournament in 2005 here today with a 6-3 victory over a new-look United States team, ending the hosts run of six consecutive World Cup wins in the process.

Hosts US taste first World Cup of Softball defeat at hands of Japan

By James Crook at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City

July 13 - The United States were defeated for the first time in this year's World Cup of Softball today, going down to a 7-4 loss against a resilient Japanese side led by superstar pitcher Yukiko Ueno.

US dominate to pull off second shutout at World Cup of Softball

By James Crook at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City

July 12 - The United States asserted their dominance with a 4-0 shutout in a repeat of last year's final against Australia in scorching temperatures here to continue their 100 per cent record and keep on track for a sixth consecutive World Cup of Softball triumph.

Birmingham shoppers treated to free squash and racketball sessions as part of Big Hit tour

By Gary Anderson

By Gary Anderson

July 12 - England's Sarah-Jane Perry and other local professionals are offering shoppers in Birmingham free squash and racketball coaching sessions as part of England Squash and Racketball's Big Hit campaign today.

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Fact of the day

When British skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean won the Olympic gold medal in ice dance at Sarajevo 1984 with 12 perfect 6.0s from every judge, for their interpretation of Maurice Ravel's Boléro, an important member of their team was singer-actor Michael Crawford. Crawford, who had played Frank Spencer in British sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and the title role in the musical The Phantom of the Opera, had become a mentor to the pair in 1981 and went on to help them create their Olympic routine. Crawford said he “taught them how to act". He was present with their trainer Betty Callaway at the ringside at Sarajevo as they created one of the most iconic moments in Olympic history.

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Pierre de Coubertin once said cricket has "practically no appeal for those who are not British". While he expressed doubts about the Olympic viability of cricket, lacrosse and baseball, Philip Barker wonders how the man who helped revive the modern Games would have reacted to new sports at Los Angeles 2028.

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