Sports can be easier added or dropped from future Olympics after the International Olympic Committee on Friday introduced a more flexible system, according to dpa. The IOC Session, meeting in Guatelama, agreed that only a simple majority is sufficient, and no longer a two third majority, to bring in new sports or to scrap others from the Summer Olympics programme. There will be a core of at least 25 sports, with a maximum three additional ones allowed in for the traditional total of 28 sports. The number of athletes will also not be raised from 10,500. The move was made after endless discussions and votes at the 2005 IOC Session before baseball and softball were dropped from the 2012 programme, which will see just 26 sports. Baseball and softball can return at the 2016 Games if the IOC Session approves in 2009. Other sports on the waiting list include golf, squash, karate and rugby. The final core sport list of 25 is to be ready by 2013 - to apply at the 2020 Games. The Winter Games will remain unchanged with seven sports, but disciplines can be dropped or added. IOC president Jacques Rogge named the new system "transparent" and "flexible." He said a core sport can only be dropped under exceptional circumstances such as doping, mismanagement, corruption or loss of popularity.
