The proposal to delay the Congress by four months was approved after it received 98.4 per cent of WBSC member votes.

Out of a 243 possible votes, 127 were in favour and two were against.

It is hoped moving the Congress, set to be held in Chinese Taipei, will help ease next year's congested calendar. 

The postponement will extend the term of WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari, who was elected in 2014 and is nearing the end of his seven-year term. 

"I am pleased to see that our members have overwhelmingly agreed with the Executive Board's recommendation to move the WBSC Congress to March 2022," Fraccari said.

"This decision was made in the interest of our member federations and Executive Board Members who will have an exceptionally busy calendar next year, including our highly anticipated Olympic comeback in Tokyo, and provides the full opportunity for members to attend in person for what is a very important elective-Congress."

There are currently 11 WBSC events pencilled in for 2021, an increased schedule due to the disruption caused to this year's calendar by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Baseball and softball are also set to feature at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, postponed to July 23 to August 8 because of the global health crisis. 

The sports are making their first Olympic appearance since Beijing 2008. 

The postponement of the WBSC Congress will also allow national federations to hold their own meetings following the Games in the Japanese capital.