Did you know that baseball was back for the Summer Olympics? The lack of coverage and enthusiasm may have caused you to miss it.  The 2020 Tokyo Olympics are now over, and baseball is no longer an Olympic sport. Japan took the gold, with the United States coming in second. Before this year, baseball had been last played in the Olympics in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics in China. Still, due to the importance of the sport in Japan, baseball and softball were temporarily reinstated for the Tokyo Olympics. The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will not have countries compete on the international stage. The future of the sport beyond the Paris Olympics is up in the air.

The main problem is that the Summer Olympics takes place during the Major League Baseball season. Unlike Japan and South Korea, the MLB doesn’t stop league play for the Olympics, which means the best players in the world are not competing. The teams are usually a mix of minor leaguers and international players who aren’t talented enough to attract the baseball world’s attention or global audiences. The World Baseball Classic has been the primary attempt at showcasing the sport on the international stage for the MLB. Until that focus shifts, it is unlikely that the quality of players will improve and make Olympic baseball a host country-dependent sport.

2024 Paris Olympics

While France has had a baseball league in operation since 1926, it is not well known or regarded. The facilities are unlikely to be up to par, and France will probably not build or renovate stadiums for a sport that they are unlikely to be competitive in. European Baseball leagues tend to not have the same support as other leagues, so there hasn’t been an enormous push to get the sport added to the competition.

2028 Los Angeles Olympics

It hasn’t been officially announced, but baseball is almost guaranteed to be played in the 2028 Olympics. Los Angeles has both Angel Stadium and Dodger Stadium that could host games easily instead of upgrading or building new facilities. The games would likely be well attended, which is a question mark in many other countries. The World Baseball Classic Championship games have been held in Dodger Stadium in the past, so there is a history of international baseball being played in the city.

2032 Brisbane Olympics

The IOC recently announced during the Tokyo Olympics that Brisbane, Australia, would host the 2032 Summer Olympics. It is questionable whether or not baseball will be played, but Brisbane has more going for it than Paris. The Australian Baseball League has a team in Brisbane called the Bandits that play in Holloway Field. The field only has a capacity of only about 4,000, but it has hosted international baseball games in the past. The stadium would probably need some major renovations for the Olympics, but there is at least a feasible facility. Australia would probably be able to field a more competitive team than France. They wouldn’t be favored to win gold, but they have at least competed in every World Baseball Classic.

2036 Summer Olympics

The IOC has yet to be announced who will host the 2036 Summer Olympics, so it is difficult to predict whether baseball will be played or not. The shortlist of cities that plan on bidding for the games is not promising for baseball. India, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Russia, Turkey, and Germany are all expected to submit bids, but none of these countries have historical ties to baseball or the infrastructure necessary for the competition to take place. Canada and Mexico are also expected to place bids, so there is some hope for 2036 Olympic Baseball.