▲ Dodger Stadium, the venue for baseball at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) has demanded that players be provided with top-tier accommodations and travel support as a condition for participating in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Bruce Meyer, Deputy Executive Director of the MLBPA, stated in an interview with local media including the Associated Press on July 15 that "players want to participate in the Olympics," but added, "they must be guaranteed appropriate treatment regarding accommodations and travel."
Meyer added, "The issue of MLB players participating in the Olympics is being discussed by the MLB Commissioner's Office, the players association, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the LA Olympic Organizing Committee, and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). We are focused on the environment in which the players will be competing."
According to ESPN, the MLBPA is reportedly seeking conditions similar to those agreed upon by the IOC, the National Hockey League (NHL), and the NHL Players' Association ahead of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
In the process of returning to the Olympics for the first time in 12 years since the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, the NHL Players' Association demanded and secured provisions for player insurance, travel support, family-related expenses, separate accommodations, ticket allocations, and rights to produce and utilize Olympic content.
However, the fact that baseball is not as significant a sport in the Olympics as ice hockey remains a hurdle.
While ice hockey is a core sport that influences the success of the Winter Olympics, the inclusion of baseball as an official sport has varied depending on the host country's interest.
Baseball was excluded from the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, returned for the 2020 Tokyo Games held in 2021, but was excluded again for the 2024 Paris Games.
ESPN reported that "MLB team owners have reached a consensus on allowing players to participate in the Olympics, but negotiations are becoming complicated as the players association has put forward various conditions."
Furthermore, the report stated, "To induce superstars such as Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Aaron Judge (New York Yankees) to participate, MLB is considering placing players on the restricted list—meaning they would not receive salary or service time from July 12 to August 3, 2028—if they refuse to participate in the Olympics, a move the players association opposes."
The LA Olympic baseball tournament will feature a total of six countries.
Host nation the United States, along with Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, have secured their spots through the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC).
In the WBSC Premier12 to be held next year, the top team from Asia and the top team from Europe or Oceania will earn Olympic berths.
The final spot will go to the winner of the final Olympic qualifier to be held in early 2028.
The Olympic Organizing Committee and others are reportedly preparing for MLB players' participation on the premise that Japan, where Ohtani plays, will secure an Olympic spot.
ESPN reported that "the organizing committee has decided to provide 435 additional hotel rooms in addition to the 100 rooms secured by MLB and the 100 rooms prepared for the Japanese national team."
The LA Olympic baseball tournament will take place at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, from July 13 to 19, 2028, local time.
MLB is planning a schedule that concludes the first half of the regular season on July 9, holds the All-Star Game on July 11, and resumes the regular season on July 21.
Meanwhile, ESPN reported that the background behind MLB teams allowing players to participate in the Olympics was influenced by league broadcasting rights negotiations.
The outlet stated, "MLB's domestic broadcasting rights contracts in the U.S. expire in 2028," adding that "team owners believe they must maximize the international profile of baseball before the broadcasting rights contracts expire."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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