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| Photo: Instagram/Bryce Harper |
On a significant day that marked both his 31st birthday and the announcement of baseball's return to the Olympics, Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper expressed his excitement for the sport's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Baseball's comeback as an Olympic discipline was confirmed on Monday, bringing elation to Harper and the global baseball community. The charismatic slugger, a two-time National League Most Valuable Player, described the news as "really cool." He revealed that he learned about the decision from a birthday message sent by his wife.
"My wife texted me 'Happy Birthday' with that," Harper shared as he prepared for the Phillies' game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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| Photo: Instagram/Bryce Harper |
While acknowledging that he'll be "old at that point," Harper is hopeful that he can represent the United States at the 2028 Olympics. He stated, "I don't know if they're going to want me to be on the team, but it's always a dream. I think it's everybody's dream to be in the Olympics."
Harper sees the return of baseball to the Olympic stage as a pivotal moment for the sport's growth, saying, "You let guys that are playing in the league take that break just like in the [National Hockey League] and see what happens. I mean, I think it would be really cool. I think it would be a lot of fun."
This decision comes after baseball's re-admission at an International Olympic Committee meeting in Mumbai earlier on Monday. The sport will join other new additions like cricket, softball, flag football, squash, and lacrosse in the 2028 Olympics lineup.
Baseball has a rich history as an Olympic sport, initially played unofficially in the 1904 St. Louis Games before becoming a demonstration sport in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. It was reinstated as an official Olympic sport in Barcelona in 1992 but dropped after the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The return of baseball to the Tokyo Olympics saw Japan taking gold and the USA earning silver, yet it won't feature in the 2024 Paris Games.
The anticipation of seeing baseball on the Olympic stage once again has ignited excitement within both players and fans, with Bryce Harper symbolizing the eagerness of many athletes to represent their countries and chase Olympic gold.
Harper sees the return of baseball to the Olympic stage as a pivotal moment for the sport's growth, saying, "You let guys that are playing in the league take that break just like in the [National Hockey League] and see what happens. I mean, I think it would be really cool. I think it would be a lot of fun."
This decision comes after baseball's re-admission at an International Olympic Committee meeting in Mumbai earlier on Monday. The sport will join other new additions like cricket, softball, flag football, squash, and lacrosse in the 2028 Olympics lineup.
Baseball has a rich history as an Olympic sport, initially played unofficially in the 1904 St. Louis Games before becoming a demonstration sport in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. It was reinstated as an official Olympic sport in Barcelona in 1992 but dropped after the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The return of baseball to the Tokyo Olympics saw Japan taking gold and the USA earning silver, yet it won't feature in the 2024 Paris Games.
The anticipation of seeing baseball on the Olympic stage once again has ignited excitement within both players and fans, with Bryce Harper symbolizing the eagerness of many athletes to represent their countries and chase Olympic gold.
Source: The Manila Times
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