Baseball and softball could be merged to go to Olympics

The baseball and softball federations could be merged into a single international organization with the hope that their sports are received back into the Olympics. Their representatives will meet with Olympic officials this week to figure out how much cooperation required to attempt recovery their participation in the Olympic program, said Tuesday Don Porter, president of the International Softball Federation.

"Being an Olympic sport brings many benefits. That's what needs to be weighed against the loss of identity (to merge its association with the baseball), "Porter told The Associated Press. Porter and Riccardo Fraccari, president of the International Baseball Federation will meet separately with Christophe Dubi, sports director of the International Olympic Committee, in order to have a more clear in his attempt to participate in the 2020 Olympics. Fraccari said both sports, which have improved their relations, previously marked by tension-now "have to study many things." First it is necessary that countries where baseball is practiced support a joint proposal at a meeting in Dallas on December 3.

The baseball and softball now compete in karate, roller sports, rock climbing, squash, Table of skiing and wushu for a place in the program in 2020. Two years ago, baseball and softball failed to win the support of IOC for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 when their initiatives presented separately included vaguely outlined proposals for women's baseball and softball for men. Golf and rugby 7, events offering medals for men and women won the vote. Now the baseball and softball accepted, after following the advice of the IOC, that cooperation is the best hope to regain the status they had and came to an end after the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, together with an income of eight million dollars spread over four-year Olympic cycle.

 "As I understand it now, should be a proposal in another federation. No We have two federations, "said Porter. Fraccari later acknowledged that it may be necessary to take major decisions, but would not outline anything beyond the IBF Congress next month. "The first step is to have a common decision ( apply) together, "said Fraccari to the AP by telephone. "Maybe these are all things that will follow the first decision."