LAUSANNE, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) voiced support on Tuesday for the decision made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to postpone the Tokyo Olympic Games to a date no later than the summer of 2021.
"The WBSC welcomes and fully supports the joint decision taken by the IOC, Tokyo 2020 and Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to postpone the start of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic," said WBSC president Riccardo Fraccari.
"While the postponement is heartbreaking for athletes -- and our baseball and softball players -- around the world, the 'Tokyo 2020' Games in 2021 can be a symbol of global recovery and solidarity, and be one of the greatest worldwide celebrations and most anticipated moments in the history of sport.
"The WBSC stands in solidarity with the Olympic Movement during this difficult time and will work closely with the IOC to manage the completion of the Olympic qualification process for baseball, which now has more time to be conducted, providing an equal opportunity for the teams and their players."
Baseball and softball will make their return to the Olympics at Tokyo 2020 after Beijing 2008.
According to the statement, softball has completed the Olympic qualification process with the six berths taken by host nation Japan, the United States, Italy, Mexico, Canada and Australia.
Host Japan, Israel, South Korea and Mexico took four Tokyo 2020 baseball tickets with the remaining two teams to be decided by the Americas Qualifier and the Final Qualifier, both postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
