Berlin, Germany (My Sportsbook) - Golf and rugby have been recommended for inclusion in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee executive board selected the two sports from a group of seven that were hoping to be a part of the Games in seven years.

A host city for the 2016 Olympics has not yet been chosen, but the finalists are Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.

Sports that did not make the cut were baseball, softball, karate, squash and roller sports.

"All seven sports made a strong case for inclusion, and the executive board carefully evaluated them in a transparent and fair process," said IOC president Jacques Rogge, who elected not to take part in the vote. "In the end, the decision came down to which two would add the most value. Golf and rugby will be a great addition to the Games."

The full IOC membership must ratify the recommendation from the executive board when it meets in October in Copenhagen. A simple majority from the 106- member panel is needed for approval.

A host city will also be selected at that meeting.

"Golf and rugby scored high on all the criteria," Rogge added. "They have global appeal, a geographically diverse lineup of top iconic athletes and an ethic that stresses fair play."

Golf, which was previously played at the 1900 and 1904 Games, has proposed a 72-hole stroke-play tournament for men and women. Tiger Woods said Tuesday during a news conference before the PGA Championship that he would be willing to play in the Olympics.

"I'd love to play for the rugby team, that would be great," a chuckling Woods said after playing his first round at the PGA Championship Thursday. "No, I think it's great for golf. We're long overdue to have it in the Olympics. Our sport is a global sport. It's played all around the world. And I think it's a great time and hopefully it will be passed in October or November and hopefully it will be truly in the Olympics."

Rugby was played at four different Olympics from 1900 through 1924. The proposal for the Olympics would be a 7-on-7 game, rather than the traditional 15-man teams.

Baseball and softball were dropped from the Olympics following the 2008 Beijing Games and had hoped to be reinstated.

With baseball being dropped out, the sport will put its international focus on the World Baseball Classic, which takes place in March prior to the regular season.

"Baseball has enjoyed great international growth in recent years and today's decision by the IOC will not deter us from continuing our efforts to grow the game globally," Major League Baseball said in a statement. "The World Baseball Classic, which is the world's premier international baseball tournament, is the cornerstone of our global effort and we will work hard to make it even bigger and better in 2013 and beyond."

The IOC decision, though, was a blow for softball, specifically the United States, which had won the first three gold medals until being beaten by Japan in the 2008 championship game.

"It's obviously disheartening," said U.S. pitcher Jennie Finch, a 2004 Olympic champion and 2008 silver medalist. "I think for the entire International Softball Federation and for us, it's a heartbreak, it's a loss. To see the sport transcend from where it started to how far we've come and then to be cut was such a devastating loss. Now this was our one shot of getting back in and we were hoping to get reinstated for 2016. That was our hope for so long and now it's gone."