The visiting director of the International Olympic Committe (IOC), South African Kelly Fairweather, told reporters in Cuba on Tuesday that baseball may be included in the 2016 Olympic games.

"The door is open," said Fairweather, who is visiting Cuba to inspect the preparations of the 11th Sports For All World Congress, which runs from Oct. 31 to Nov. 4 in Havana.

Fairweather added that the first World Baseball Classic was a large step in the right direction, adding that if the event comes to be a regular event it would be one more point in baseball's favor.

"The debate on the Olympic program is ongoing. It started in Mexico in November 2002. Many sports want to join the Olympic competition, and that is a good thing for the Olympic movement."

The Olympic program committee will meet in October in Lausanne, Switzerland, where it will make recommendations for the executive committee to consider a month later, also in Lausanne.

This committee will in turn make recommendations to the 120 IOC members for consideration in the July 2007 session in Guatemala City.

Baseball was played once, during the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, and had been an exhibition sport five times before then. At its Singapore meeting, the IOC decided to exclude baseball and softball from the 2012 London Olympic Games, although it will be included in the 2008 Beijing Games.