Sweden on Olympic Baseball

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000333

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/PGI - REASOR; EUR/PPD - A. WHITE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KOLY KPAO PGOV SCUL SW
SUBJECT: Sweden on Olympic Baseball


1. Summary. Embassy Stockholm spoke with Gunilla Lindberg, one of
Sweden's three International Olympic Committee (IOC) members, to
seek support for the return of baseball and softball to the Olympic
Games. Lindberg asserted the independence of IOC members from
governmental pressure (U.S. or Swedish) and said her decision would
be based on technical factors such as worldwide participation and
viewing audiences. However, she also noted her personal support for
developing baseball and softball in Sweden. Post has also
established contact with the Swedish Baseball and Softball
Federation for purposes of advocating the sports in Sweden. End
Summary.

2. On May 25, 2009, Embassy Stockholm spoke with Gunilla Lindberg
to express the USG's support for baseball and softball's respective
candidacies as Olympic sports. Lindberg said that her decision
would be based on the technical merits of the individual sports and
not by public support in Sweden or personal meetings with prominent
athletes. She indicated that the Swedish government plays no role
in IOC deliberations and applies no pressure to Swedish IOC Members.
Similar lobbying efforts by foreign embassies would be disregarded
by the IOC Members and were discouraged. (The Government of Sweden
has taken no official position regarding baseball or softball in the
2016 Summer Games.) In addition to being a Member of the IOC since
1996, Lindberg sits on the influential IOC Programme Commission and
is the Secretary General of the Swedish Olympic Committee.

3. Lindberg explained that baseball, softball and five other
candidate sports were just reviewed by the IOC Programme Commission
and a technical report regarding popularity, competitiveness and
media coverage, among other factors, was delivered to the IOC
Executive Committee. As part of that review process, the Programme
Commission heard presentations from all of the athletic federations
that sponsor each of the candidate sports, including the
International Baseball Federation (IBAF). Lindberg could not
discuss the results of the current Programme Commission assessment,
but indicated that it would likely be available in August to the
public.

4. Lindberg noted that the IOC Executive Committee would review the
Programme Commission's assessment and listen to additional
presentations by the sponsoring federations at the June 15-16
meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland. At that meeting, or in a
subsequent meeting August 16-23 in Berlin, the IOC Executive
Committee will decide whether or not to recommend two or three
events for inclusion in the 2016 Summer Games. Lindberg indicated
that the Executive Committee's recommendations would be very
influential when the IOC Members vote in the Copenhagen IOC Session
October 1-2. Lindberg noted that that voting rules have been
changed since the 2005 IOC vote that ousted baseball and softball.
This time, candidate events will need a simple majority of votes,
rather than a super-majority (two thirds),to get into the Games.

5. Lindberg was quick to note that as a member of the Swedish
Olympic Committee, she is a strong supporter of the Swedish Baseball
and Softball Federation. She is planning to attend at least two
games and the opening reception of the Baseball World Cup hosted by
Sweden September 9-12. She encouraged the Embassy to support
baseball's general development in Sweden. When extended an
invitation to Embassy Stockholm's Independence Day Celebration,
Lindberg was gracious and indicated that she would certainly try to
attend if not travelling.

6. The Embassy also spoke with Kristian Paelviae, General Secretary
for the Swedish Baseball and Softball Federation (SBSF),who felt
that the more lenient IOC voting rules would help baseball and
softball's candidacies. He reaffirmed that the Swedish IOC members
are completely independent from the Swedish Ministry of Sports and
other direct lobbying. Nevertheless, he said that strong attendance
at the World Cup would be an important public show of support to
European IOC members. He indicated that Lindberg is seen as
aligning herself with IOC President Jacques Rogge in her voting
decisions. He suggested that another Swedish IOC Member, Dr. Arne
Ljungqvist, was heavily focused on doping issues because of his
affiliation with the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA). He had
no insight into Pernilla Wiberg, the third voting Swedish IOC
Member.

7. Paelviae also highlighted the important of the Baseball World
Cup, sponsored by the IBAF and hosted by the SBSF, in encouraging
the continued growth of baseball in Sweden. The first baseball game
was played in Sweden in 1904 and a core group of 900-1000 players
participate in tournaments every year. Paelviae noted that baseball
in Sweden was increasingly popular among immigrant youth and girls.
One team playing in a suburb of Stockholm is almost entirely
comprised of immigrant background youth. Although he has seen an
upswing in interest, Paelviae indicated that two factors hold
Swedish baseball back: the travel time required for teams to
participate in tournaments; and the lack of quality equipment
available in leading Swedish sporting goods stores. He felt well
supported by the IBAF, Little League and Pitch In for Baseball.

8. Comment: Post is exploring ways to support the September 9-12
Baseball World Cup event (although the United States is not a
participating team) as part of our efforts to gain Swedish IOC
members' support for baseball and softball. Post engagement in
baseball in Sweden may also advance our Muslim/immigrant outreach
effort. End Comment.
SILVERMAN