Using an old boxing glove for a ball and a broom handle for a bat, alumni from Harvard and Yale originated the game of softball in 1887 at Chicago's Farragut Boat Club. Since its early recreational beginnings, the sport has soared in popularity, spreading to nearly 100 International Softball Federation countries before eventually finding its place on the Olympic Programme as a full-medal sport in 1996.
Known as "kitten ball," "diamond ball" and a number of various other names during its early years, the sport became known as "softball" in 1926. A few years later, a 55-team softball tournament was held in conjunction with the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago.
Internationally, the first World Championships in women's softball were held in Australia in 1965 with five countries competing: Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United States. Australia won the inaugural championship with a 1-0 win over the United States, but since then, the United States has emerged as the dominant team in the sport, winning World Championships in 1974, 1978, 1986, 1990 and 1994.
After nearly 30 decades of lobbying to include the sport in the Games, the International Olympic Committee approved softball as an Olympic medal sport on 13 June 1991.
This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for
the Olympic Games Sports Publication Department. Written by Howard
Thomas.
| An estimated 5.3 million visted Centennial Olympic Park between opening day - 13 July - and closing day - 4 August, making the park the most single most visited Olympic site during the Games. |