Jennie Finch Calls on Women to Unite in Backing Baseball/Softball 2020 Olympic Games Bid

Olympic softball Gold medalist Jennie Finch has called on women everywhere to show their support for softball to be played at the Olympic Games ahead of next week’s decision by the IOC Executive Board in St Petersburg, abortion Russia.

Softball has a merged bid with baseball and joins the likes of wrestling, wakeboarding, karate, wushu, sport climbing, roller sports and squash in the list of sports looking for Olympic recognition from 2020.

The SportAccord Convention takes place next week and that list of eight sports will be cut down to a reported three.

Now Finch has offered her backing for baseball/softball and noted the impact softball has on girls and women. She said: “I’ve personally seen how softball has grown globally, and its impact on the lives of millions of young girls worldwide.

“Played in at least 140 countries at some level, softball is an incredibly diverse team sport developed for girls and women.

“At a time when it is increasingly recognized that a successful global economy is dependent on educating, empowering and including girls and women, it is crucial for the future of the many young women.

“Softball at the Olympics would be good for girls everywhere and good for society.”

Finch praised the work of the Olympic Movement in inspiring more young girls to take up sport, and said the IOC vote next week would be especially important to the hopes and aspirations of a next generation of young girls to compete at the Olympic Games.

“This vote [by the IOC EB] is incredibly important for girls everywhere. It is vital for young women who are inspired and empowered by softball that the sport be placed in the Olympics, and receives the full support of the IOC,” Finch added.

World Baseball Softball Confederation co-President Don Porter added: “The historic merger with baseball, a process that took over two years to carefully work out, puts the athletes, universality, inclusiveness and gender equity at the forefront of our bid, and with the support of role models like Jennie, we are optimistic that it is the right time for baseball and softball to be re-introduced to the Olympic Games.

“Baseball and softball are easily introduced and practiced by youth anywhere. It is the WBSC’s vision to work with the IOC to give every boy and girl an opportunity to take part in sport and put baseball and softball at the service of the Olympic Movement to provide  youth a gateway to excellence, fitness, overcoming challenges and being empowered.”

The International Softball Federation recently merged with the International Baseball Federation to create the WBSC which is now the single entity pitching the IOC on the value of baseball and softball  in the Olympic Games.