Is Olympic softball in jeopardy?

ATHENS — The story going around is that softball’s place in the Olympics is in jeopardy and that the Americans made things worse by coming to Athens and beating everyone in sight.

International Softball Foundation president Don Porter has heard it often, but shrugs it off. He knows the people saying it aren’t the ones that matter most — and what those folks are saying is a lot more encouraging.

“In talking with IOC members and others that are a lot closer to the situation, I think our sport is in good shape,” Porter said. “I’m optimistic.”

The softball-is-in-trouble notion began two years ago, when the sport was among three called on the carpet by the International Olympic Committee. Along with the federations of baseball and modern pentathlon, softball’s governing body went to a meeting in Mexico to explain why the sport should remain in the Summer Games after Athens.

But the IOC changed gears. Earlier this summer, they decided instead to reevaluate all 28 sports, each facing the same criteria. A vote will be taken at a general session in Singapore next July.

So, yes, softball is in a battle — yet, technically, it’s the same one gymnastics and swimming are facing to get into the 2012 Games.

When the U.S. team steamrolled through the Olympic field, allowing just one run, some people considered it a problem. The talent gap that seemed to have narrowed in Sydney was as wide as ever.

Even the runner-up Australians lamented all the advantages the U.S. team has. It became such a hot topic that the women hailed as the new Dream Team felt compelled to defend themselves.

“We know how great a sport softball is,” said Laura Berg, who has been in all three Olympic tournaments. “We believe that we belong in the Games. It’s a disappointment that it’s on the chopping block.”

Porter said the U.S. dominance rarely comes up in his discussions. The main jabs are that the game isn’t global enough and two offshoot issues: whether enough people are paying attention and the viability of venues after the Games end.

The softball federation’s response is that it is trying. The federation sent $750,000 in equipment to more than 60 countries last year and aims to top that this year. The group also frequently sends coaches overseas to hold clinics and seminars.

“If we can keep it up, we’ll see the level rise on the competitive side as well as the global side,” Porter said.