Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    BEIJING, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- With the first pitch at the Olympic softball competition just over one week away, the softballers from eight teams likes to talk about what they will encounter in Beijing.

    According to the official website of International Softball Federation, Chinese's delicious food, the Great Wall, the Olympic Village - all of these get dissected by these lucky girls, who have the final chance to showcase their skills and passion at the quadrennial arena.

    In addition to the happiness and expectation, another favorite topic of conversation might be: What can we do on the diamond to save our beloved sport from Olympic exile?

    "We're going to use Beijing as a platform to prove that we belong in the Olympics," U.S. blonde pinup pitcher Jennie Finch said.

    "In many countries, the Olympics is the only place for millions of girls to pursue their dream. We want to continue that dream for the young girls in China and we plan to do this," she added.

    Softball, introduced to the Atlanta Olympics 1996, was dropped from the Summer Games after Beijing by International Olympic Committee (IOC)'s vote in 2005, yet the sport governing body is making a bid to have the IOC reconsider the decision.

    "It could be the last Olympics for softball...it makes me really sad. Because it is not only to make it to the Olympics but to prove that we can compete for many years to come at upcoming Olympics," Venezuelan infielder Maria Soto told the website.

    Maria also hopes the media's power could help rescue the sport and save the dream of many girls who love it.

    "If I could reach out to the world's press, I (would) tell them that softball has awakened so many young girls around the planet to dream and to have interest in a women's sport, especially in softball.

    "IOC members know that they have the power to give every woman in this world the opportunity to develop their skills in any sport they choose; in our case we are asking them to fight for softball, so please support us."

    Natasha Watley, the infielder from the defending Olympic gold medalist U.S. team, is looking forward to her second and yet maybe last Olympics if softball cannot be reinstated onto the 2016 Olympic Programme.

    "I'm hopeful to give it all I have and leave everything on the field because this could be my last time wearing the USA uniform," said Natasha, adding that the sport has changed her life in many ways.

    "Softball has opened so many doors for me. I have become more ofa leader both on and off the field by example. It has made me more aware of who I am and allowed me to sharpen every aspect of my life. This sport fulfills dreams and needs to be in the Olympic Games."

    In order to reinstate softball in the 2016 Olympics, the word's governing body ISF thus launched the namely "Back Softball Campaign", hoping the sport can return to the big family as early as next year's vote at IOC's 121st session.

    From Aug. 12-21, the eight Olympic teams that will compete at the refurbished Fengtai Softball Field are Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, the Netherlands, the United States and Venezuela.