Women’s soccer and women’s softball are two hugely popular sports in the United States, and both have had international success. Both sports were added to the Olympic slate in 1996, but softball was unceremoniously dumped after the 2008 Olympics.

Even as the U.S. women’s softball team won world cups, they didn’t get the same kind of notoriety as the softball players who won Olympic gold, or the women’s soccer team who won the World Cup.

But the trajectory of softball was given a kick upwards on Wednesday as the International Olympic Committee voted to return softball for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, along with baseball. Surfing, skateboarding, sport climbing and karate will make their Olympic debuts in Tokyo,

Unsurprisingly, the softball world was pleased with this development.

Softball happiness was not limited to the United States.

Welcome back Softball

to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics!!

あのときの感動・熱狂を再び

東京2020オリンピックで!! pic.twitter.com/gQ8LO9lsun — JAPAN Softball (@JSAteamJAPAN) August 3, 2016

With softball back for 2020, I can’t help but wonder how the sport would have grown and changed during the past two Olympics. While the United States won the first three golds, Japan won the final gold, beating the U.S. in the final in Beijing. Would Canada and Australia, the two countries who have challenged the U.S. and Japan the most, have become powers? Would Jackie Traina be as well known as Carli Lloyd?

Now, it is time for softball to look forward and focus on the future of the sport. Getting on the slate for 2020 is a good start, but it doesn’t mean softball will be in the Olympics forever. It must prove it’s a sport that truly captures the Olympic spirit.