World baseball-softball body frowns at Fukushima city stadium
December 7, 2016 (Mainichi Japan)
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Kyodo) -- The World Baseball Softball Confederation is having doubts about the city of Fukushima's infrastructure to host part of the baseball and softball competition at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, sources told Kyodo News on Tuesday.
The sources said WBSC has told the 2020 organizing committee it is concerned with the facilities at Fukushima's Azuma Stadium and unless improvement is seen, it would be difficult to hold games there.
WBSC was unimpressed by the stadium, which it inspected in November, and prefers the two other options it has in Fukushima Prefecture -- Kaiseizan Stadium in Koriyama and the Green Stadium in Iwaki.
WBSC wants turf to be laid in the infield and more seats in the stands at Azuma Stadium, and does not look like it will budge an inch.
"We will find the best solution possible without compromise," a WBSC source said.
The venue plans of the five added sports for Tokyo are expected to be approved at the International Olympic Committee's executive board meeting starting Tuesday.
But regarding baseball-softball, the decision on the Fukushima venue is set to be put off. Only Yokohama Stadium, which will be the main stadium for the competition, is expected to receive the IOC's approval
