Golf and rugby union sevens are set to be included in the programme of events for the 2016 Olympic Games following a meeting of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) executive board (EB).

A total of seven sports - including baseball, squash and karate - presented their case for inclusion alongside the 26 core Olympic sports to the EB in June. Roller sports and softball also applied for the two available slots for the 2016 Games. The EB's recommendation that golf and rugby union sevens be incorporated into the Olympic programme will now go before the full IOC to be ratified when it meets in Copenhagen, Denmark, in October.

IOC president Jacques Rogge said: "All seven sports made a strong case for inclusion and the EB carefully evaluated them in a transparent and fair process. In the end, the decision came down to which two would add the most value. "Golf and rugby scored high on all the criteria. They have global appeal, a geographically diverse line-up of top iconic athletes and an ethic that stresses fair play."

Rob Andrew, elite rugby director at the Rugby Football Union, said: "We realise though that this is just the first step and the final decision rests with the IOC Committee. We hope they will see that rugby would be good for the Olympics and the Olympics would be good for rugby. Rugby sevens is short, sharp and entertaining and reflects the Olympics' core values of sportsmanship, friendship, respect and discipline." Meanwhile, the IOC's EB also approved new events for the London 2012 Olympic Games, including the introduction of women's boxing, alterations to the modern pentathlon format and the removal of placement matches in the handball tournament.

The IOC said that it had received requests from 17 international sports federations for changes to be made to events, quotas and competition formats in a bid to ensure the Games reinforce the commission's commitment to increasing women's participation and ensuring the Olympic programme is continually refreshed.