More - Don Porter Quotes

[Don Porter , the American head of the international softball federation, said he did not expect his sport to get the ax.] Absolutely not, ... I thought, based on my discussions here with IOC members over the last five days, that we had good support. I'm very surprised. We've been good for the Olympic program, but sometimes the game of politics enters into it.

Don Porter

 

Our national federations are legitimate members, some are stronger, some are weaker.

Don Porter

 

We provide a lot of softball equipment and technical assistance to China and we are also sending coaches. It is very important to get young people interested in it.

Don Porter

 

Our feeling is, speaking only for ourselves, that it was a tie in Singapore. And it should be addressed.

Don Porter

 

It's not too late to get on to the London program,

Don Porter

 

having done very well in the last 10 years in developing softball not only in the international level but also in the national level.

Don Porter

 

I think anti-Americanism was a factor. I think that vote was political. It wasn't about a sport. It had do with a political situation to protect the president. It hurts our sport and it hurts our athletes.

Don Porter

 

It's very disappointing to lose by one vote, especially when there's an abstention, ... I wonder who the 52 are who voted against us. That's my concern.

Don Porter

 Vote

I am encouraged by recent media reports that the IOC President has expressed the possibility of reconsideration of the decision in Singapore in that there were precedents for the full IOC to reconsider a decision,'

Don Porter

 Singapore

I am optimistic that this unified effort by our softball delegation will show Mr. Rogge and the IOC Members that almost three months after the vote, we remain committed to getting our sport back on the 2012 program, just as we've always been dedicated to growing softball globally and keeping it as a world-class sport that projects the Olympic image and ideals -- especially its promotion of women.

Don Porter

 Vote