野球の五輪落選 魅力をどう世界に広めるか

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 16, 2009)
IOC decision tough on baseball, softball
野球の五輪落選　魅力をどう世界に広めるか（8月16日付・読売社説）

Even if Tokyo is chosen to host the 2016 Olympic Games, we will not be able to enjoy watching the battle for baseball and softball medals.
　２０１６年の東京五輪招致が実現しても、野球とソフトボールのメダル争いは見ることができなくなった。

The International Olympic Committee executive board has selected golf and rugby sevens for proposed inclusion in the 2016 Summer Games. The board will submit the two sports for ratification by the IOC Assembly in Copenhagen in October.
　１６年夏季五輪で実施する競技について、国際オリンピック委員会（ＩＯＣ）の理事会は、ゴルフと７人制ラグビーを追加候補に決めた。１０月の総会で最終決定する。

Baseball and softball, which have been dropped from the Olympic program for the 2012 London Games, failed in their comeback bids. As both are sports Japan had a chance of winning gold medals in, it was a regrettable outcome for this nation.
　１２年のロンドン五輪で実施競技から外れる野球とソフトボールは、選から漏れ、五輪復帰はならなかった。日本にとっては、どちらも金メダルを狙える競技だけに、残念な結果である。

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Baseball stars failed to speak

Baseball is only popular in a few regions around the world, and this may be the main reason it was dropped from the Olympic program. While baseball is popular in Japan and the United States, it cannot be denied that in Europe it lags well behind other popular sports, such as soccer, and is a minor sport there.
　野球は、盛んな地域が限られている。落選した最大の要因は、そこにあるだろう。日本や米国では人気競技だが、欧州ではサッカーなどの陰に隠れたマイナーなスポーツであることは否めない。

The failure of U.S. Major League Baseball's leading players to state whether they would participate in the Games also affected the outcome. In contrast, leading golfer Tiger Woods appealed to the board for his sport to be included in the 2016 Summer Games.
　米大リーグのトップクラスの選手が、五輪に出場するかどうか、はっきりしないままだったことも響いた。ゴルフでは、第一人者であるタイガー・ウッズ選手が、五輪競技入りをアピールしたのとは対照的だったといえる。

The participation of star players increases interest in a sporting event, which in turn allows higher broadcasting rights fees to be charged, bringing in increased funds for the IOC.
　スター選手が出場することで、注目度が高まれば、テレビの放映権料が高騰し、ＩＯＣの財政は潤う。

This fact undoubtedly formed the basis of the decision to select golf and not baseball for proposed inclusion in the 2016 Olympics.
ゴルフが選ばれ、野球が落選した背景には、こうした側面があったことは否定できまい。

Allegations of performance-enhancing drug use by MLB players may also have been a key factor behind the IOC's decision, as the committee has toughened its stance on doping.
　大リーグでの相次ぐ薬物疑惑も、ドーピング対策に力を入れるＩＯＣから見れば、大きなマイナスポイントであったといえる。

There is no doubt the World Baseball Classic will continue to be seen as an important event. To spread baseball's appeal around the world, efforts must be made to improve the standing of this competition that determines the world's number one national baseball team.
　今後、ワールド・ベースボール・クラシック（ＷＢＣ）の重要性が増すのは間違いない。世界一を決める大会として、さらに充実させ、野球の魅力を広く発信していく必要がある。

In the second WBC, which was held in March, it was great to see that the competitiveness of European baseball teams had greatly improved. This is encouraging in terms of promoting the internationalization of the game.
　３月の第２回大会で、欧州チームのレベルアップが目立ったのは、野球の国際化を進めるうえで、心強いことだ。

If Japan and the United States continue to play a leading role in promoting the sport around the globe, such improvements in the skill level of emerging baseball nations should lead to the return of the game to the Olympic program in the future.
日本や米国が先導役となって、世界的に普及を図っていく。それが、将来の五輪復帰につながるはずだ。

The IOC decision also came as a huge shock to softballers, for whom participation in the Olympics was their main goal. Maintaining the high standards that saw the Japanese national team win the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games has now become a pressing issue.
　五輪を最大の目標としてきたソフトボールの選手にとっても、今回の落選は大きなショックであろう。昨年の北京五輪で金メダルを獲得した実力を、どう維持していくかが課題である。

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Good news for golfers

If golf is officially included in the 2016 Summer Games, we would be able to cheer on Ryo Ishikawa and Ai Miyazato as they drive for gold.
　ゴルフが五輪競技に加われば、石川遼選手や宮里藍選手が金メダルを目指し、奮闘する姿が見られるかもしれない。

If Tokyo hosts that Games, the inclusion of the two players would make the Olympics even more exciting.
　東京五輪でそれが実現すれば、大会は大いに盛り上がるだろう。

On Oct. 2, the IOC will pick the host city for the 2016 Olympic Games. We hope the nation's bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games continues to gain momentum.
１６年夏季五輪の開催地が決まる１０月２日に向けて、招致の機運を一層盛り上げていきたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 16, 2009)
（2009年8月16日01時39分  読売新聞）