Sept. 18--The countdown has begun for baseball and softball's fight to get back into the Olympics.
Officials for the 2020 Tokyo Games said Friday they will announce a list of sports to be added to their program and deliver it to the International Olympic Committee on Sept. 28.
Baseball and softball -- which have joined forces to campaign for reinstatement -- are among nine candidates. The IOC will vote on Tokyo's recommendations at a meeting next August.
"With the existing baseball/softball venues throughout Japan, it could bring Tokyo 2020 and the Olympic Movement dividends -- particularly in engaging both genders and youth," the World Baseball Softball Confederation said in a statement.
Both sports were previously part of the Games but were kicked out in 2008 in controversial decisions by the IOC.
The other potential additions for 2020 include bowling, karate, surfing and squash.
"Our sport has inherently youthful values, and its blend of high performance, style and digital connectivity appeals to young people," the International Surfing Assn. said. "We can showcase Tokyo and Japan to a worldwide audience and help celebrate the Games in a truly modern way."
