According to the New York Times Golf and rugby appear the favorites to be the sports added to the 2016 Summer Olympics, with softball and possibly baseball in the running as well, according to Olympic and international sports officials.

The 2016 Games will be awarded Oct. 2 to one of the four contenders Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro or Tokyo. Seven sports are vying to be included, the other three being roller sports, karate and squash.

On Thursday in Berlin, the 15-member executive board of the International Olympic Committee will narrow the list to two proposed sports, which will be voted on by the entire 106-member I.O.C. assembly Oct. 9 in Copenhagen. It has not been decided whether the two proposed sports will be accepted or rejected individually or as a pair.

Golf and Rugby being the front-runners of this list, may then in October be voted - in rugby's case - 'back' into the Olympics! Finally!

The IRB of course presented Sevens Rugby as the format of choice, so that more Games can be played on two or three of the 16 days of the Olympics. The Olympic step will also help further increase the popularity of women's rugby.