Maria Soto: Softball Olympian & Venezuelan NOC President visits Olympic House, emphasises baseball and softball’s credentials for Olympic inclusion

Olympic and softball legend Maria Soto met with IOC President Thomas Bach in her position as Venezuelan Olympic Committee President and reiterated her belief that baseball and softball should be on the Los Angeles 2028 programme.

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<p>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.</p>

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<p>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. </p>

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<p>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.</p>

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<p>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.</p>

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<p>“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.</p>

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<p>“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.”</p>

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