Olympic Games start with softball matches

On July 21, 2021, the competition began in the capital of Japan 2 days ahead of the official Olympic opening ceremony for Tokyo 2021. The first softball matches were played in Fukushima, where the Japan women’s team beat Australia 8:1.

On July 21, several softball matches took place, and the women’s soccer tournament kicked off.

It is the first time since 1996 that the Summer Olympics do not start with soccer matches. Softball is a variant of baseball played with a softer ball and a larger bat. Unlike baseball, a softball match goes seven innings.

Softball was on the Olympic programme from 1996 to 2008 and will not be played at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the official website of the International Olympic Committee reports.

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