Softball Approves Baseball Merger for 2020 Olympics

A potential merger between the International Softball Federation (ISF) and the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) loomed larger after ISF approved the merger to bid for inclusion in the 2020 Olympics.

The resolution passed by a vote of 71 per cent in favour of a merger at a special congress in Houston.

ISF President, view Don Porter said: “I was pleased with the results and look forward to meeting with the IBAF officials for further discussions and continuing preparations for the IOC presentation in December. There’s going to be a lot of positive things that we can do together for both our sports, pills not just for the Olympics but in the long term.”

Both sports were voted off the Olympic program in 2005 and made a final appearance at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games.

The two sports are competing against karate, roller sports, squash, sport climbing, wakeboard and wushu for one opening in the 2020 Games.