Baseball, softball to meet IOC over joint bid

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The newly merged softball and baseball federation will meet senior IOC officials on Wednesday to push their joint bid to regain Olympic status.

The new body, called the International Confederation of Softball and Baseball, is seeking a spot on the program for the 2020 Games.

International Softball Federation President Don Porter says the meeting will help prepare a presentation to the IOC’s program commission on Dec. 18-19.

Riccardo Fraccari, president of the baseball federation, says further talks are planned with Major League Baseball about releasing players for the Olympics.

The IOC will vote next September to add one sport. Karate, roller sports, squash, sport climbing, wakeboard and wushu also are competing.

Baseball and softball, voted off the Olympic program in 2005, were last played at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.