Baseball at the Games of the XXVII Olympiad | ||||||||||
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Venues | Sydney Baseball Stadium Blacktown Olympic Park | |||||||||
Dates | 17–27 September 2000 | |||||||||
Teams | 8 | |||||||||
Medalists | ||||||||||
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Baseball at the 2000 Summer Olympics was the third time an Olympic baseball tournament had been held as a full medal sport, and the ninth time it had been part of the Summer Olympic Games in any capacity. It was held in Sydney, Australia from 17 September through to the bronze and gold medal games on 27 September. Two venues were used for the Games: the Sydney Baseball Stadium and Blacktown Olympic Park. For the first time in Olympic competition, professional baseball players were eligible to participate, though no active players from Major League Baseball were available.[1][2][3]
In the gold medal game known as the "Miracle on Grass",[4] the United States became Olympic Champions for the first time in its baseball history by defeating Cuba 4–0.[5][6] Since becoming a medal sport, it was the first time Cuba had not won the gold medal. The gold medal game was also only the second game Cuba had lost in Olympic baseball, having lost to the Netherlands earlier in the tournament.[1] South Korea won their first Olympic baseball medal, beating Japan in the bronze medal match 3–1.[6]