Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is seen during a cabinet meeting at Miraflores Palace in Caracas May 29, 2012. (REUTERS/Miraflores Palace/Handout)

Venezuela’s Chavez jokes about teaming with Obama

CARACAS, Venezuela: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez jokingly raised the possibility of teaming up with President Barack Obama to lobby for baseball and softball to be brought back to the Olympics.

Chavez made the remark during a televised speech Tuesday night, saying he’s sorry that the two sports won’t be played at the London Games. Baseball and softball were last played as medal events at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Chavez provoked laughter from aides when he then suggested: “Obama, let’s form an alliance.”

He said Fidel and Raul Castro of Cuba also would favor having the sports restored to the Olympics. Baseball is the top sport in Venezuela as well as Cuba, and Chavez is a baseball fan.

“Let’s go Obama, together. Alliances can be made, Fidel, Raul, Obama and Chavez to fight for baseball and softball,” he said.

Relations have been tense for years between Chavez and the U.S. government, with American officials criticizing Venezuela’s rights record as well as its counter-drug efforts.

Chavez has recently scaled back his public appearances after undergoing cancer treatment. But the 57-year-old president appeared energetic and in a good mood on Tuesday during a lengthy speech in which he appeared seated at a table along with members of his Cabinet.

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