News
2013-12-10

Reports: WBSC CO-PRESIDENTS MEET IOC EXECUTIVES IN LAUSANNE
(By Baseball Federation of Japan)

According to Kyodo News, WBSC Co-President Fraccari met Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda in Lausanne on December 9 and asked for his support to re-include baseball and softball in 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

President Takeda is quoted as saying that baseball is highly popular in Japan and he will do what is possible. Fraccari says that “The door is still open. Tokyo has enough numbers of venues and will not require additional outlays.

Separately, WBSC Co-President Porter met IOC Vice President Coates, head of the Coordination Commission for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, in Lausanne on December 9th and solicited his understanding of WBSC’s drive to reinstate the two sports. OCA President Sheikh Ahmad is said to have joined the meeting, according to Kyodo News.

Porter commented that baseball and softball are popular in Japan and cannot be ignored to keep dreams of young generation alive.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board (EB) will meet at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, on 10 December 2013. The EB is scheduled to receive reports from various IOC Commissions, including the Athletes’ Commission; the summer and winter International Federations; the National Olympic Committees; and the World Anti-Doping Agency. Reports on the activities of the coordination commissions for upcoming editions of the Olympic Games are also planned, in addition to updates on the activities of the IOC administration.
From 11 to 14 December 2013, the EB will meet to discuss a wide range of themes related to the future of the Olympic Movement.