The latest on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Softball Tournament
20 Jul 2021
Olympic Softball set for return after 13 years
Welcome to this daily summary of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Softball tournament, giving you the latest news and key updates on the pinnacle event.
The sport of softball is returning to the Olympic Games for the first time since 2008, and it's returning as the first official competition of the Tokyo 2020 Games. The tournament will be played at Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium and Yokohama Baseball Stadium under a round-robin system, from 21-26 July, with the top two teams in the final standings playing the Gold Medal Game on 27 July.
The six head coaches in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Softball event gathered on the eve of the tournament for the pre-tournament press conference at Fukushima Azuma Stadium, including Laing Harrow (Australia), Mark Smith (Canada), Federico Pizzolini (Italy), Reika Utsugi (Japan), Carlos Bernaldez (Mexico) and Ken Eriksen (USA).
Japan enters the Olympic softball tournament as the defending gold medallists. The team has had to wait 13 years for the chance to defend the gold medal that the squad won at the 2008 Beijing Games. The six-team field at Tokyo 2020 includes world No. 1 USA, No. 2 Japan, No. 3 Canada, No. 4 Mexico, No. 8 Australia and No. 9 Italy.
USA (1996, 2000 and 2004) and Japan (2008) are the two nations to have won an Olympic softball gold medal. Australia (1 silver, 3 bronzes) has never won the gold, but the nation has won a medal in each Olympic softball event. Softball Canada has yet to medal, while Mexico is making its Olympic softball debut.
The full official team rosters can be viewed here.
Pre-tournament Press Conference
Head coaches ready for 'toughest' Olympic softball tournament ever
Feature Videos
Who will win the gold in softball at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020?
Two-time Olympic medallist Stacey Porter on advice for her teammates
Day 1 Historical Preview: Tokyo 2020 Olympic Softball tournament
The sport of softball is returning to the Olympic Games for the first time since 2008. USA (1996, 2000 and 2004) and Japan (2008) are the two nations to have won an Olympic softball gold medal.
Japan looks to defend 2008 Olympic softball gold medal as sport returns at Tokyo 2020
Japan enters the Olympic softball tournament as the defending gold medallists and No. 2 in WBSC Softball World Rankings. The team has had to wait 13 years for the chance to defend the gold medal won at the 2008 Beijing Games.
Danielle Lawrie: Softball Canada can win it all at Tokyo 2020 Olympics
With past Olympic experience under her belt, Lawrie is ready to help her country go for the gold, as softball returns to the Games for the first time since 2008.
USA superstar Monica Abbott: “The team has a really good feeling, good atmosphere, good energy”
“Softball has grown a lot, women’s sport has grown a lot across the world, so really looking forward to put on a great show and super excited to be here and have this opportunity.”
Softball Australia great Stacey Porter: “We’re ready to compete on the Olympic stage again”
Porter talked with host Tyler Maun for The Global Game, the WBSC podcast, about this historic moment for her, for Softball Australia and for the entire sport.
Softball Mexico's ace Dallas Escobedo: “Game one is going to set the tone for the rest of the week”
Mexico pitching star Dallas Escobedo can't wait for the Olympic Games to start, especially with softball having the privilege of being the first sport to start at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on Wednesday, 21 July.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Softball preview - USA and Japan lead strong field
The tournament will be played under a round robin system, from 21-26 July, with the top two teams in the final standings playing the Gold Medal Game on 27 July.
Olympic softball records: Marks to be broken in Tokyo 2020
From Perfect Games: Yukiko Ueno, Japan vs. China 2004; Monica Abbott, USA vs. Netherlands 2008 to Most Consecutive Victories: 9 – USA (2004), check out all the Olympic records for softball. How many of them will be broken at Tokyo 2020?
#OlympicSoftball - Stars ramp up Olympic fever on social ahead of Wednesday's opening day
The Olympics means reaching the peak of years of work for the athletes, Find out more about their excitement building towards Wednesday's opening day of softball at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
