Saskatoon Olympian eager to see softball return to 2020 Games

Saskatoon softball players are eager to see the game return to the Olympics in 2020 after a 20-year absence.

The IOC approved the addition Wednesday for the Tokyo Games.

“It gives the women athletes in softball that much more opportunity,” Saskatoon native, Jacki Nichol said.

She was on team Canada in Sydney, Australia back in 2000, where they finished seventh place.

“Once your sport gets into the Olympics, it opens up so much more opportunities and funding,” Nichol said.

She thinks it will garner more international events in Saskatoon leading up to the 2020 Games.

“The opportunities are endless,” she said.

“During my time on the national team we got to play in Saskatoon almost every year and the fans are amazing here.”

Saskatoon native Megan Gurski is expected to play for Canada women’s softball in 2020, she’s currently on the national team.

Skateboarding, surfing, karate and sport climbing are also joining the games for the first time in Tokyo

The new sports will add 18 events and 474 athletes to the program. The Tokyo Games will now feature 33 sports and about 11,000 athletes, compared to the usual number of 28 sports and 10,500 athletes.

-With files from The Canadian Press