Softball To Go Solo On Olympic Reinstatement

The International Softball Federation (ISF) wants to go it alone when it bids for reinstatement in the Olympic Games, and has rejected the latest offer from the International Baseball Federation (IBF) to join together in the bid.

The ISF said Monday it wants to continue independently to try and persuade the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to include men's and women's fast-pitch competition at the 2020 Summer Games.

ISF President Don Porter said that softball - which was played by women only at four Olympics from 1996-2008 - could succeed alone. He said, "softball, on its own, meets all criteria for inclusion as an Olympic medal sport. Softball has been an independently governed sport for many years and its independent and separate proposal was accepted in 1991 by the IOC when softball was added to the Olympic program".

Women's softball and men's baseball were dropped from the London 2012 Games and rejected last year when the IOC voted for golf and seven-a-side rugby for the Rio 2016 Olympics.

The IOC will decide on the 2020 sports program in 2013.