The International Softball Federation (ISF) approved Tuesday a merger with baseball as part of a combined bid for inclusion in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games.
The resolution passed by a vote of 71 per cent in favour of a merger at a special congress in Houston.
Both sports were voted off the Olympic program in 2005 and made a final appearance at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games.
The two sports are competing against karate, roller sports, squash, sport climbing, wakeboard and wushu for one opening in the 2020 Games.
