SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL DUMPED BY IOC

Softball and baseball have been voted out of the Olympics:

Baseball and softball are out of the Olympics as of 2012, in a vote that surprised even longtime International Olympic Committee members.

Friday's secret vote reflected a heavy European influence of the IOC, which claims a near majority of European members. The popularity of baseball and softball are limited primarily to the Americas, Canada and Asia. Both sports were founded in the U.S.

Handball would have been dropped but for its universal popularity.