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TOP 10 WORLD SPORTS NEWS EVENTS IN 2023

(231229) -- BEIJING, Dec. 29, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Here is Xinhua News Agency's selection of the 10 most significant pieces of international sports news in 2023: Cricket and baseball/softball will return to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games after the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session approved the proposal on October 16. Flag football, lacrosse and squash will also feature at Los Angeles 2028 as additional sports. In a separate vote, IOC members confirmed that weightlifting and modern pentathlon will retain their Olympic places, after the International Weightlifting Federation took action to solve doping issues, and a makeover for modern pentathlon sees obstacle racing replace equestrian. This file photo taken on Oct. 16, 2023 shows a digital display showing the sports of baseball and softball for their feature as one of five new sports at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, during the second day of the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Mumbai, India. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

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TOP 10 WORLD SPORTS NEWS EVENTS IN 2023

(231229) -- BEIJING, Dec. 29, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Here is Xinhua News Agency's selection of the 10 most significant pieces of international sports news in 2023: Cricket and baseball/softball will return to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games after the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session approved the proposal on October 16. Flag football, lacrosse and squash will also feature at Los Angeles 2028 as additional sports. In a separate vote, IOC members confirmed that weightlifting and modern pentathlon will retain their Olympic places, after the International Weightlifting Federation took action to solve doping issues, and a makeover for modern pentathlon sees obstacle racing replace equestrian. This file photo taken on Oct. 16, 2023 shows IOC members voting during the second day of the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Mumbai, India. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

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TOP 10 WORLD SPORTS NEWS EVENTS IN 2023

(231229) -- BEIJING, Dec. 29, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Here is Xinhua News Agency's selection of the 10 most significant pieces of international sports news in 2023: Cricket and baseball/softball will return to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games after the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session approved the proposal on October 16. Flag football, lacrosse and squash will also feature at Los Angeles 2028 as additional sports. In a separate vote, IOC members confirmed that weightlifting and modern pentathlon will retain their Olympic places, after the International Weightlifting Federation took action to solve doping issues, and a makeover for modern pentathlon sees obstacle racing replace equestrian. This file photo taken on Oct. 16, 2023 shows a digital display showing the sport of squash for its feature as one of five new sports at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, during the second day of the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Mumbai, India. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

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(SP)INDIA-MUMBAI-141ST IOC SESSION-DAY 2

(231016) -- MUMBAI, Oct. 16, 2023 (Xinhua) -- A digital display shows the sports of baseball and softball for their feature as one of five new sports at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, during the second day of the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Mumbai, India, Oct. 16, 2023. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

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IOC President Bach

MONACO, Monaco - International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach answers a question at a press conference in Monaco on Dec. 8, 2014. The IOC approved the same day the framework of a new Olympic program, opening the way for a possible return of baseball/softball in a joint bid for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

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Baseball, softball may return to 2020 Tokyo Olympics

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Softball Association Vice President Taeko Utsugi (L) and Baseball Federation of Japan Vice President Yoshinobu Suzuki look happy in Tokyo on Dec. 8, 2014, after the International Olympic Committee's recent approval of a reform for the framework of the Olympic program which paves the way for a possible return of the two events in a joint bid for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

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Karate group welcomes IOC's move

TOKYO, Japan - Shigeo Kurihara (L), vice chairman of the Japan Karatedo Federation, attends a press conference in Tokyo on Dec. 9, 2014, after the International Olympic Committee approved a new reform for the framework of the Olympic program, opening the road for bids from baseball/softball, karate and squash to be included in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He said, "I feel joy that we stand here for this dream to start. We will work together to get (karate) included."

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Women's softball world championship starts in Netherlands

HAARLEM, Netherlands - Supporters of the Dutch team applaud during a game against Taiwan in Haarlem, the Netherlands, on Aug. 16, 2014. The International Softball Federation aims to gain back the status of an official Olympic event for the sport in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

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Wrestling voted back in for Tokyo Olympics

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Nenad Lalovic, president of wrestling's world governing body FILA, makes a presentation at the International Olympic Committee's general session in Buenos Aires on Sept. 8, 2013. Wrestling, which was dropped from the Olympics list of core sports in February, regained its spot for inclusion for a single berth in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, beating out a combined baseball-softball bid and squash in a vote by IOC members later in the day.

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Wrestling voted back in for Tokyo Olympics

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - World Squash Federation President Narayana Ramachandran makes a presentation at the International Olympic Committee's general session in Buenos Aires on Sept. 8, 2013. Wrestling, which was dropped from the Olympics list of core sports in February, regained its spot for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. It grabbed the single berth available, beating out a combined baseball-softball bid and squash in a vote by IOC members later in the day.

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Wrestling voted back in for Tokyo Olympics

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - International Softball Federation President Don Porter makes a presentation at the International Olympic Committee's general session in Buenos Aires on Sept. 8, 2013. Wrestling, which was dropped from the Olympics list of core sports in February, regained its spot for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. It grabbed the single berth available, beating out a combined baseball-softball bid and squash in a vote by IOC members later in the day.

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Baseball/softball Olympic bid

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - (From L) International Softball Federation President Don Porter, International Baseball Federation President Ricardo Fraccari and Nippon Professional Baseball Commissioner Ryozo Kato hold a press conference in Buenos Aires on Sept. 6, 2013. Members of the International Olympic Committee will vote in the Argentine capital on Sept. 8, 2013, to select the one last sport to be included in the 2020 Summer Olympics from among wrestling, baseball/softball and squash.

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Squash Olympic bid

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - World Squash Federation President Narayana Ramachandran holds a press conference in Buenos Aires on Sept. 6, 2013. Members of the International Olympic Committee will vote at the Argentine capital on Sept. 8, 2013, to select the one last sport to be included in the 2020 Summer Olympics from among wrestling, baseball/softball and squash.

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Wrestling Olympic bid

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Nenad Lalovic, president of wrestling's governing body FILA, holds a press conference in Buenos Aires on Sept. 6, 2013. Members of the International Olympic Committee will vote at the Argentine capital on Sept. 8, 2013, to select the one last sport to be included in the 2020 Summer Olympics from wrestling, baseball/softball and squash.

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Olympic softball medalist seeking bid to race in skeleton in Sochi

NAGANO, Japan - Juri Takayama (L) takes a break during skeleton training at the Spiral -- a bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track in Nagano -- on July 6, 2013.

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Olympic softball medalist seeking bid to race in skeleton in Sochi

NAGANO, Japan - File photo shows Juri Takayama pitching as a starter during a softball game against the United States at the Athens Summer Olympics in 2004. Japan won the bronze medal in the Games.

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Olympic softball medalist seeking bid to race in skeleton in Sochi

NAGANO, Japan - Juri Takayama hops on the sled while practicing the start of the skeleton at the Spiral -- a bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track in Nagano -- on July 6, 2013. Takayama, an Olympic medalist in women's softball, now aims to qualify to represent Japan in the skeleton event at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia.

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IOC meeting

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - The International Olympic Committee holds a press conference after an executive board meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia, on May 29, 2013. The board voted to shortlist wrestling, baseball/softball and squash for possible inclusion in the 2020 Summer Olympics.

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IOC meeting

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - The International Olympic Committee holds a press conference after an executive board meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia, on May 29, 2013. The board voted to shortlist wrestling, baseball/softball and squash for possible inclusion in the 2020 Summer Olympics.

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IOC meeting

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - International Wrestling Federation chief Nenad Lalovic holds a press conference in St. Petersburg, Russia, on May 29, 2013. The International Olympic Committee's executive board voted to shortlist wrestling, baseball/softball and squash for possible inclusion in the 2020 Summer Olympics.

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IOC meeting

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge attends an IOC executive board meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia, on May 29, 2013. The board voted the same day to shortlist wrestling, baseball/softball and squash for possible inclusion in the 2020 Summer Olympics.

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Baseball, softball Olympic bid

TOKYO, Japan - International Baseball Federation president Ricardo Fraccari (L) and International Softball Federation president Don Porter in Tokyo on April 14, 2013, sign the constitution of the new World Baseball and Softball Confederation as part of their joint bid to get the two sports back into the Olympic Games for 2020.

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Baseball, softball world bodies to merge

HOUSTON, United States -The world governing body for softball, the ISF, meets in Houston, Texas, on Oct. 30, 2012. The organization gave the green light to a plan to merge with the baseball federation, the IBAF. The two groups hope to give themselves a better shot of rejoining the Olympic program.

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Olympic Council of Asia meeting in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - The Olympic Council of Asia holds a general meeting in Tokyo on July 14, 2011. The council decided to again include softball at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

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Olympic Council of Asia meeting in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - Olympic Council of Asia President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah speaks during the council's general meeting in Tokyo on July 14, 2011. The council decided to again include softball at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

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Matsui visited by Olympic softball gold medalist

NEW YORK, United States - New York Yankees' Hideki Matsui (R) shakes hands with Yukiko Ueno, a Japanese softball pitcher who won the gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games, as she paid a visit to Yankee Stadium on June 30.

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Emperor, empress host autumn garden party

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito (2nd from L in front) and Empress Michiko (L in front) talk with Beijing Olympic medalists -- swimmer Kosuke Kitajima (2nd from R), judoka Satoshi Ishii (3rd from R) and softball player Yukiko Ueno (4th from R) -- during an autumn garden party the imperial couple hosted at the Akasaka Imperial Garden in Tokyo on Oct. 23.

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Japan beats 3-time champ U.S. to claim softball gold

BEIJING, China - Japan softball pitcher Yukiko Ueno (C) wipes away tears during the medal ceremony for the gold Japan captured in the Beijing Olympic Games at the Fengtai Sports Center Softball Field Aug. 21.

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Japan beats 3-time champ U.S. to claim softball gold

BEIJING, China - Japanese softball players acknowledge fans during the medal ceremony for the gold they captured in the Beijing Olympic Games at the Fengtai Sports Center Softball Field Aug. 21.

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Japan win gold in softball at Beijing Olympics

BEIJING, China - Japan's starter Yukiko Ueno pitches against the United States in the softball final at the Beijing Olympic Games at the Fengtai Sports Center Softball Field on Aug. 21. Japan beat the U.S. 3-1 to win the gold medal.

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Japan win gold in softball at Beijing Olympics

BEIJING, China - Japan's outfielder Eri Yamada hits a homer in the fourth inning of the softball final against the United States in the Beijing Olympic Games at the Fengtai Sports Center Softball Field on Aug. 21. Japan beat the U.S. 3-1 to win the gold medal.

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Japan downs Australia for final berth in softball

BEIJING, China - Rei Nishiyama singles home the game-winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning of a game against Australia in the Beijing Olympic Games at Fengtai Sports Center Softball Field on Aug. 20. Japan beat Australia 4-3 to rematch the United States in the softball final.

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Olympics: Team USA downs Japan to book final berth in softball

BEIJING, China - U.S. team members rejoice when Crystl Bustos hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning of a semifinal match against Japan at Fengtai Softball Stadium at the Beijing Olympic Games on Aug. 20. The United States beat Japan 4-1 to book a spot in the Olympic softball final.

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Olympics: Team USA downs Japan to book final berth in softball

BEIJING, China - Japanese team members including pitcher Yukiko Ueno (2nd from R) walk off the field Aug. 20 after they lost a semifinal softball match to the United States at Fengtai Softball Stadium at the Beijing Olympic Games.

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Olympics: Team USA downs Japan to book final berth in softball

BEIJING, China - Crystl Bustos (L) of the United States hits a three-run homer in the ninth inning of a semifinal match against Japan at Fengtai Softball Stadium at the Beijing Olympic Games on Aug. 20 Japanese pitcher Yukiko Ueno watches Bustos' homer. The U.S. team defeated the Japanese team 4-1.

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Japan rolls over Canada in final softball preliminary in Beijing

BEIJING, China - Members of the Japanese softball team celebrate after beating Canada 6-0 in Japan's final preliminary round game of the Beijing Olympic softball tournament on Aug. 18.

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Olympics: Japan books spot in softball medal round

BEIJING, China - Members of Japan's softball team celebrate after beating Venezuela 5-2 at Fengtai Softball Field in Beijing on Aug. 17 to secure a place in the four-team knockout stage of the Beijing Olympic softball tournament.

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Japan keeps unbeaten record in softball

BEIJING, China - Japanese softball players celebrate their 3-0 victory over the Netherlands in the preliminary round of the Beijing Olympic tournament at Fengtai Sports Center Softball Field on Aug. 14.

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Japan off to winning start in Olympic softball

BEIJING, China - Japanese players celebrate their 4-3 victory over Australia in their game of a softball preliminary round of the Beijing Olympic Games at Fengtai Sports Center Softball Field in Beijing on Aug. 12.

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Japan secures Olympic berth in softball

BEIJING, China - The Japanese softball team players rejoice in Beijing on Sept. 3 after securing a spot in the Beijing Olympic softball tournament after edging host China 1-0 in an extra-inning tiebreaker in the knockout stage of the world championship.

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(1)Utsugi hits winner as Japan secures softball medal

ATHENS, Greece - Players and supporters celebrate after Japan edged China 1-0 to guarantee themselves a medal in the Athens Olympic softball tournament at Olympic Softball Stadium on Aug. 22. Yukiko Ueno pitched eight shutout innings and Reiko Utsugi doubled home the winning run in the top of the eighth inning.

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(3)Utsugi hits winner as Japan secures softball medal

ATHENS, Greece - Japan catcher Noriko Yamaji (L) blocks Li Chunxia of China, who tried to score the tying run on a Wang Xiaoyan sacrifice fly in the bottom of the extra eighth inning of their softball tournament match at Olympic against China at Softball Stadium on Aug. 22. Japan edged China 1-0 to guarantee themselves a medal. Japan edged China 1-0 to guarantee themselves a medal.

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(2)Utsugi hits winner as Japan secures softball medal

ATHENS, Greece - Reika Utsugi (L) is greeted by team head coach Taeko Utsugi (R) after doubling home the winning run in the top of the eighth inning in a softball tournament match at Olympic against China at Softball Stadium on Aug. 22. Japan edged China 1-0 to guarantee themselves a medal.

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Japan's Ueno throws perfect softball game

ATHENS, Greece - Yukiko Ueno of Japan (L) becomes the first pitcher in Olympic softball history to throw a perfect game on the final day of round-robin play against China in the Athens Olympics on Aug. 20. Japan beat China 2-0 and earned a semifinal berth.

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Japan loses to Canada in Olympic softball

ATHENS, Greece - Japan's starting pitcher Yukiko Ueno throws during a first-round softball match in the Athens Olympics against Canada on Aug. 17. Japan was beaten by Canada 0-1.

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(3)Japan rebounds to clobber Taiwan in Athens softball

ATHENS, Greece - Members of the Japanese softball team respond to supporters after beating Tiwan 6-0 in a preliminary game at Olympic Softball Stadium in Athens on August 15.

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(2)Japan rebounds to clobber Taiwan in Athens softball

ATHENS, Greece - Japan's Hiroko Sakai throws a pitch during her team's women's preliminary Olympic softball game against Taiwan at Olympic Softball Stadium in Athens on August 15. Sakai tossed a two-hit shutout for a 6-0 victory.

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(1)Japan rebounds to clobber Taiwan in Athens softball

ATHENS, Greece - Haruka Saito watches the ball after hitting an RBI single to left in the first inning against Taiwan at Olympic Softball Stadium on Aug. 15. Rebounding from a hitless loss to Australia on Aug. 14, the Japanese team clobbered error-prone Taiwan 6-0.

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Australia beats Japan in softball

ATHENS, Greece - Members of Japan's softball team (top) leave the field after losing the game 4-2 against Australia in the first round of the Athens Olympic matches on Aug. 14.

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(2) Security tight on eve of Olympic Games

ATHENS, Greece - A missile launcher is seen near the venues for baseball and softball events at the Hellinikon Olympic Complex, south of Athens, on Aug. 12 on the eve of the opening ceremony of the quadrennial event.