Following his election in Botswana’s capital Gaborone, the Italian claimed the "next four years are going to be very tough".

In less than three years’ time, baseball and softball will feature on the Olympic sports programme at Tokyo 2020.

It will be the first time they have done so since Beijing 2008, after which they were dropped.

"My goal is getting closer to National Federations," Fraccari said.

"I want to have a continued dialogue to show them how beneficial for them a relation with WBSC can be.

"In our next Executive Board meeting, that will happen in Paris in March, I want to detail a programme for the next four years."

A total of 77 National Federations participated in the voting.

Chinese Taipei’s Tom Peng was elected first vice-president with 67 of the 74 valid votes, while the United States’ Paul Seiler was elected second vice-president unopposed.

It took three further rounds of voting to elect three members at large with Japan’s Hiroko Yamada, Panama’s Benicio Robinson and Spain’s Luis Melero receiving 64, 63 and 61 of the 74 valid votes respectively.

Five continental vice-presidents will sit on the Executive Board with China’s Chen Xu representing Asia, Tunisia’s Sabe Jlajla representing Africa, the Dominican Republic’s Tito Pereyra representing the Americas, France’s Didiet Seminet representing Europe and New Caledonia’s Laurent Cassier representing Oceania.

San Marino’s Angelo Vicini was elected unopposed as treasurer.

The gathering in Gaborone also saw Puerto Rico’s Tommy Velazquez elected the new chairman of the WBSC softball division.

He was elected with 51 votes against the 34 received by incumbent Dale McMann of Canada.

McMann was the first to congratulate Velazquez, President of the Pan American Softball Confederation, and who also leads the Puerto Rico Softball Federation.

"I am sure he will do a great job," the outgoing chairman said at the WBSC softball Congress.

"It was my honour and my privilege serving the organisation for 24 years."

Malaysia’s Beng Choo Low was elected first vice-president with 47 votes out of 85 in the first round.

America's Craig Cress received 64 votes in the second round and was elected second vice-president at the expense of incumbent Darryl Clout of Australia.

The election of the three members at large required more time and engaged the delegates in different rounds of votes.

Venezuela’s Maria Soto was elected first member at large with Japan’s Taeko Utsugi elected the second and Botswana’s Tirelo Mukokomani the third.

"We had a long day," Velazquez said in his first speech as chairman.

"I really want to thank this Congress for trusting me so much.

"I find it an excellent opportunity.

"Above all, I want to work together with Europe."

Velazquez stressed the importance of inclusion on the Olympic programme at Paris 2024.

"We need to have a very clear goal," he added.

"Paris 2024...it’s a key to our future.

"Before I go, I want to say that we are all on the same team and this team is the game of softball."

The Executive Board of the WBSC softball division is completed by five continental vice-presidents; Japan’s Hiromi Tokuda for Asia, South Africa’s Mashilo Matsetela for Africa, Colombia’s Antonio Morales for the Americas, Czech Republic’s Gabriel Waage for Europe and New Zealand’s Rex Capil for Oceania.

Colombia’s Javier Anaya was elected treasurer unopposed.