Lavin Asego powers over to score a try for Kenya during the IRB Sevens England tournament in May 2009
Ahead of a key International Olympic Committee meeting in Berlin on Thursday 13 August, members of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) have given their backing to Karate and Rugby Sevens as the two sports that should be added to the Olympic Programme.
A total of 305 journalists from 83 countries voted in a poll that asked them to choose two of the seven sports bidding for Olympic inclusion.
Karate came out top, just ahead of Rugby Sevens.
See below for a breakdown of the voting.
| Sport | Votes
| Percentage
|
| Karate | 120 | 20.48% |
| Rugby Sevens
| 111 | 18.94% |
| Golf | 94 | 16.04% |
| Squash | 86 | 14.68% |
| Baseball | 83 | 14.16% |
| Softball
| 54 | 9.22% |
| Roller Sports
| 38 | 6.48% |
Following the recommendation of two sports in Berlin, the IOC membership will meet in Copenhagen on 9 October to select the two sports that will join the Olympic Programme in 2016.
