SPORTS

IOC mulls return of baseball for Tokyo 2020 Olympics

The Associated Press Published Wednesday, January 14, 2015 7:11AM EST

Japan's Masahide Kobayashi, left, celebrates with Ryoji Aikawa after they defeated Canada in the bronze medal game at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, in this Aug. 25, 2004 file photo. (AP / Eric Gay)

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TOKYO -- Tokyo Olympic organizers have set up a panel to determine which additional sports events will be added to the program for the 2020 Games.

Under the IOC's "Olympic Agenda 2020" reforms, host cities are allowed to propose the inclusion of one or more additional events for their games.

Because of their popularity in Japan, baseball and softball, which were dropped from the Olympic program after the 2008 Beijing Games, are considered to have the best chance of being added.

The seven-member panel includes representatives from the Japanese Olympic Committee, the Tokyo organizing committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and prominent figures from the business and sporting worlds.

Karate, squash, roller sports, sports climbing, wakeboard and wushu are also hopeful of joining the Tokyo 2020 program.