SEEKING HONDURAN SUPPORT FOR REINCORPORATION OF

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000486 SIPDIS FOR DEPARTMENT PDAS KELLY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV SCUL SOCI HO SUBJECT: SEEKING HONDURAN SUPPORT FOR REINCORPORATION OF BASEBALL IN OLYMPIC GAMES ¶1. (SBU) Per reftel request, Poloff spoke on June 15 with Rafael Carbajal, General Manager of The International Baseball Federation (IBAF) in Honduras. Carbajal asserted that although the Honduras branch of IBAF had limited resources and was therefore solely concerned with spreading the sport domestically, the entire IBAF community would be lobbying their governments worldwide to vote for the inclusion of baseball in the 2016 Olympic Games. ¶2. (SBU) Poloff also met with Francisco Munoz, Assistant Manager of the Honduran Olympic Committee on June 18 to discuss the issue. Munoz expressed the committee,s interest to see baseball reinstated and added that he had been informally approached by the Japanese Embassy and Peace Corps volunteers on the subject. Munoz stated that he had discussed the issue with the president of the committee but would also ask him to consult with IBAF on a course of action. Post will continue to press the issue. LLORENS