LIMA, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- The World Baseball Softball Confederation on Wednesday congratulated Paris 2024 and LA 2028 on being awarded the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and reiterated its goal of securing the long-term future of baseball and softball on the Olympic Program.
Speaking from the IOC Session in Lima, Peru, WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said: "Paris and LA are two great world cities with exceptional Games plans, and they will provide unforgettable stages for sport. As we look beyond our Tokyo comeback, these two hosts represent the best of both worlds for WBSC: a city full of growth potential in Paris, and in LA a global capital of baseball and softball in our sports' largest market."
"The Olympic Games is WBSC's first priority. It is Game Time for securing baseball and softball's Olympic future. Our first step in the coming weeks and months will be communicating to the IOC and the Paris 2024 Organising Committee how our sports can contribute to a spectacular Games and to the development of sport in France.
"Olympic baseball and softball in Paris in 2024 would mark a significant milestone for the sports in France. As well as being the 100th anniversary of the last Paris Games, 2024 is also the centenary of the French Baseball and Softball Federation."
Baseball and softball were dropped by IOC in 2005 and competed for the last time at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The two sports will return to the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020.
