JUL  21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31  AUG 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
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Baseball/Softball
Fukushima Azuma and Yokohama baseball stadiums
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Baseball is played by men and softball, originally indoor version of baseball, by women
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BAT (78.7-86.4cm long)
Baseball: Maple wood
Softball: Aluminium or carbon fibre
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OBJECTIVE (baseball and softball)
Two teams (of nine players) take turns batting and fielding. Pitcher throws ball to
batter who tries to hit it and run to first base or further. Run is scored when player runs around all bases and back to home plate. Opposing fielders try to catch ball and take
batter out
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Lee Seung-Yuop
(KOR), batting for gold in Beijing
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Home run
Foul line

Third base

Team dugout

Infield

Outfield

Second base

Pitcher

First base

Diamond

Batter
(Home plate)
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PITCHING STYLES 

Baseball
Overarm, raised mound
Up to 170km/h
18.4m 

BALL DIAMETER 
Baseball: 73mm 
Softball: 97mm

Softball
Underarm, flat surface
Up to 110km/h
12.2m

DIAMOND COMPARISON
Baseball
Softball
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PREVIOUS OLYMPIC MEDALISTS (Beijing 2008)

BASEBALL
Gold South Korea 
Silver Cuba
Bronze United States

SOFTBALL
Gold Japan
Silver United States 
Bronze Australia
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*Baseball previously appeared at Olymics in: 1904, 1912, 1936, 1952, 1956, 1964, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008. Softball previously in: 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008
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Sources: Tokyo 2020, WBSC, MLB, BBC Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS

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