Venezuela Olympic Committee President María Soto, right, used a meeting with IOC President Thomas Bach to push the claims for baseball and softball to feature at Los Angeles 2028 ©WBSC

Venezuela Olympic Committee President María Soto has used a meeting with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach to push the case for baseball and softball to be included on the programme for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

Soto, who captained the country’s softball team at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, and was the country’s flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony, met Bach at Olympic House in Lausanne.

She used the meeting to emphasise why she believed baseball and softball should be included on the programme at LA 2028.  

"It was an honour for me to speak with IOC President Bach at the Olympic House and have the chance to emphasise the importance of having baseball and softball at LA28," Soto said.

"Softball is one of the most popular sports in the United States and in many Latin American countries as well as around the world, and I believe that it would increase engagement with the Olympic Games in our region and globally.

"Including it on the programme will inspire thousands of girls and women to take up the sport and help continue its growth across the globe.

Soto, pictured at the IOC Session in 2013, where she spoke as part of a WBSC presentation ©Getty Images
Soto, pictured at the IOC Session in 2013, where she spoke as part of a WBSC presentation ©Getty Images

"Beijing 2008 was a highlight of my career and I want other softball and baseball players around the world to experience the incredible atmosphere of an Olympic Games."

Soto, who was last year elected as the Venezuela Olympic Committee’s first female President, became the first softball Olympian to sign the athletes wall during her visit, and received a World Olympians certificate of recognition.

Baseball featured as an official Olympic sport at each Summer Games between 1992 and 2008, before being dropped.

It was added to the programme for Tokyo 2020, with hosts Japan the champions after beating the United States 2-0, but is not on the line-up for Paris 2024.

Softball featured as an Olympic sport on the programme at each Summer Games from 1992 to 2008, before being dropped.

It returned for Tokyo 2020, when Japan beat the US 2-0 to win gold, but is not featuring at Paris 2024.

The other sports alongside baseball and softball that are hopeful of receiving inclusion for Los Angeles 2028 are cricket, flag football, lacrosse, breaking, karate, kickboxing, squash and motorsport.

A decision on the sports programme for LA 2028 was due to be made last month but has been postponed.