- At least two people were killed and 20 injured in a bombing in southern Baghdad on Friday morning, an Interior Ministry official told CNN. The bomb exploded in a market in Dora district, the official said. The market is usually crowded in the morning with poor farmers selling their produce. Residents in the area have complained to CNN about lax security after the market was repeatedly struck by bombings in recent months. The attack follows a series of bombings on Thursday that left four dead and dozens injured in Babil province south of Baghdad. The five blasts struck crowded streets within one hour. At least 100 people were killed and more than 500 wounded Wednesday in six explosions in the capital, which included two massive suicide truck bombs that targeted Iraqi ministries. In one attack, a truck bomb exploded outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The blast blew through the front of the building, sending some vehicles flying and leaving others in mangled twists of metal in the area, which is just outside the restricted International Zone, also known as the Green Zone. Another truck bomb went off outside the Ministry of Finance building. Eleven high-ranking security officials from the Iraqi army and police were detained for investigation Thursday. Wednesday's explosions marked the country's deadliest day since the United States pulled its combat troops from Iraqi cities and towns nearly two months ago and left security in the hands of the Iraqis. The U.S. military remains in a training and advisory capacity in those areas and continues to conduct combat operations outside cities and towns. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has called for the implementation of increased security measures, including more checkpoints and more stringent vehicle searches across the capital, government officials told CNN on Thursday. The Iraqi government has been trying to restore what it described as normalcy to the streets of the capital in recent weeks. Al-Maliki ordered his government to take down within 40 days the concrete blast walls that line Baghdad's streets and protected neighborhoods at the height of the war. Many Iraqis have criticized the move as premature. BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN)
Even if Tokyo is chosen to host the 2016 Olympic Games, we will not be able to enjoy watching the battle for baseball and softball medals.
The International Olympic Committee executive board has proposed that golf and rugby sevens be added to the list of events in the 2016 Summer Games. A meeting of the IOC Assembly to be held in October will make a final decision on the list.
Baseball and softball, both of which have been dropped from the Olympic
program for the 2012 London Games, failed in their comeback bids. The IOC
executive board's latest action was a regrettable outcome for Japan as this
nation had a chance of winning gold medals in both events.
"Baseball
stars failed to speak"
Baseball is only popular in a few regions around
the world, and this may be the main reason behind the executive board's action.
Although baseball is popular in Japan and the United States, there is no denying
that the game takes a backseat to soccer and other sports in Europe.
The failure of U.S. Major League Baseball's star players to state whether they would participate in the Games also adversely affected the selection process. In contrast, the world's top golfer, Tiger Woods, appealed to the board for the sport to be included in the 2016 Summer Games.
The participation of star players increases interest in a sporting event, which in turn allows higher broadcasting rights fees to be charged, bringing in increased funds for the IOC.
This fact undoubtedly formed the basis of the decision to select golf and not baseball for proposed inclusion in the 2016 Olympics. Allegations of performance-enhancing drug use by MLB players may also have been a key factor behind the IOC's decision, as the committee has toughened its stance on doping.
There is no doubt the World Baseball Classic will become more important in the future. To spread baseball's appeal around the world, efforts must be made to improve the standing of this competition that determines the world's number one national baseball team.
In consideration of the need to internationalize baseball further, it was encouraging that the skills displayed by European baseball teams showed a distinct improvement during the second WBC in March.
If Japan and the United States continue to play a leading role in this respect, such improvements in the skills of emerging baseball nations should lead to the return of the game to the Olympic program in the future.
The IOC decision also came as a huge shock to softballers, for whom
participation in the Olympics was their main goal. Maintaining the high
standards that saw the Japanese national team win the gold medal in the 2008
Beijing Olympic Games has now become a pressing issue.
"Good news for
golfers"
If golf is officially included in the 2016 Summer Games, we
would be able to cheer on Ryo Ishikawa and Ai Miyazato as they drive for gold.
If Tokyo hosts that Games, the inclusion of the two players would make the
Olympics even more exciting.
On Oct. 2, the IOC will pick the host city for the 2016 Olympic Games. We hope the nation's bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games continues to gain momentum. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 16, 2009)
