Softball at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Softball
at the Games of the XXIX Olympiad
Pictogram used to identify softball at the 2008 Games
VenueFengtai Softball Field
DatesAugust 12–21, 2008
Teams8
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s)  Japan
2nd place, silver medalist(s)  United States
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)  Australia
← 2004
2020 →
Competing teams

Softball at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing took place over a ten-day period starting August 12 and culminating in the medal finals on August 21. All games were played at the Fengtai Softball Field. Olympic softball is a women only competition, with men competing in the similar sport of baseball.

This is the last time Softball was contested as a core sport at the Olympics, as the International Olympic Committee voted to remove baseball from the program in the 2012 Olympics.[1] Along with baseball, softball was rejected for inclusion in the 2016 Summer Olympics at the IOC's meeting in October 2009.[2] However, softball was contested at the 2020 Games and will be included in the at the 2028 games as an additional sport.[3][4]

  1. ^ Michaelis, Vicki (2005-07-08). "Baseball, softball bumped from Olympics". USA Today. Retrieved August 17, 2008.
  2. ^ "Olympic Leaders Approve Golf and Rugby for 2016 Summer Games". Fox News. Associated Press. August 13, 2009. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
  3. ^ Victor Mather (August 3, 2016). "Baseball and Softball Returning to Olympics in 2020". New York Times.
  4. ^ Emma Baccellieri (October 20, 2023). "Softball's Addition to 2028 Olympics Breathes New Life Into the Sport". Sports Illustrated.