The IOC approved of a new reform for the framework of the Olympic program on Monday, opening the way for a possible return of baseball/softball in a joint bid for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The IOC voted to scrap the cap of 28 sports to the Summer Games to allow new sports to be included, a process that would open the road for the inclusion of baseball/softball as well as karate.

Changes to the Olympic framework will emphasize events rather than sports, setting the limit at about 310 events with approximately 10,500 athletes allowed to participate in the Summer Games.

Organizers of the 2020 Tokyo Games are now free to choose an event they wish to propose to the IOC. Baseball/softball appears to have a large support base even among IOC members.

At the earliest, it opens the possibility for the return of baseball/softball in a decision to be made at the IOC general session in Kuala Lumpur in July 2015.

"With the inclusion of baseball/softball it would be a favorable wind for the fans," Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee chairman Yoshiro Mori said.

"To be selected, the necessary highly evaluated work that anyone would be satisfied with must be done," said one member of Tokyo's organizing committee.