MLBPA Chief Expresses Doubt Over Tokyo 2020 Participation

Tony Clark, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, has said it will be difficult for MLB players to compete at the Tokyo 2020 summer Olympic Games due to scheduling issues.

The Olympics are due to take place from July 24 to August 9, which could limit the participation of professional baseball players.

Tokyo 2020 will mark baseball’s first appearance at a Games since Beijing 2008. It became an Olympic sport for the 1992 Games in Barcelona, but was dropped from the programme for the 2012 Games in London.

Last August, the International Olympic Committee confirmed that baseball/softball, karate, skateboard, sport climbing and surfing would be added to the Tokyo 2020 programme. Baseball and softball’s bid for inclusion at Tokyo 2020 was led by the merged World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).