Softball at the World Games
Encyclopedia
Softball
was introduced as a World Games
sport at the 1981 World Games
in Santa Clara
and discontinued after the 1985
games in London
. It was reintroduced as a women's invitational sport
in 2009
in Kaohsiung
after it had been removed from the Olympic Games programme
.
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
was introduced as a World Games
World Games
The World Games, first held in 1981, are an international multi-sport event, meant for sports, or disciplines or events within a sport, that are not contested in the Olympic Games...
sport at the 1981 World Games
World Games 1981
The 1981 World Games were the very first World Games and they were held in Santa Clara, California in the United States. The games featured sports that were not included in the Olympics, including tug-of-war, racquetball, baseball and softball, "artistic roller skating, fin swimming, karate,...
in Santa Clara
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
and discontinued after the 1985
World Games 1985
The second World Games were held in 1985 in London, the capital city of England. Three venues were used, the main one being Crystal Palace. Sports included Taekwondo, Karate, Sambo, Powerlifting, Flipper/Snorkel swimming, roller skate sports, casting, korfball, waterskiing and netball...
games in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It was reintroduced as a women's invitational sport
Demonstration sport
A demonstration sport is a sport which is played to promote itself, most commonly during the Olympic Games, but also at other sporting events.Demonstration sports were officially introduced in 1912 Summer Olympics, when Sweden decided to include glima, traditional Icelandic wrestling, in the...
in 2009
World Games 2009
The World Games of 2009 took place in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, from July 16, 2009 to July 26, 2009. The games featured sports that are not contested in the Olympic Games....
in Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
after it had been removed from the Olympic Games programme
Softball at the Summer Olympics
Softball was introduced as an Olympic sport for women in the 1996 Summer Olympics. On July 11, 2005, the IOC voted to drop baseball and softball from the Olympic program for 2012, a decision that was reaffirmed on February 9, 2006...
.
Men
| 1981 Santa Clara |  United States |
United States (II) |
 Canada |
Women
| 1981 Santa Clara |  The Bahamas |
||
| 1985 London |  Chinese Taipei |
||
| 2009 Kaohsiung | Chinese Taipei |
 South Korea |
See also
- Softball at the Summer OlympicsSoftball at the Summer OlympicsSoftball was introduced as an Olympic sport for women in the 1996 Summer Olympics. On July 11, 2005, the IOC voted to drop baseball and softball from the Olympic program for 2012, a decision that was reaffirmed on February 9, 2006...
women's competitions were held in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008 - ISF Women's World ChampionshipISF Women's World ChampionshipThe ISF Women's World Championship is a fastpitch softball tournament for women's national teams held every four years by the International Softball Federation . The number of teams in the tournament began at five in its inaugural event in 1965, went to a high of 28 for the 1994 edition , and now...