World Baseball Softball Confederation Officially Ratified as Campaign Ramps Up

The international federations of baseball and softball have now officially formed the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) following the launch of a global campaign to get baseball and softball back into the Olympic Games.

WBSC co-President Riccardo Fraccari (pictured), link who was also eleted to a new term said: “This is a historic day. We have brought a new level of world wide unity and determination in our quest to return to the Games”.

In forming a single sporting federation both sports hope to improve their chances of returning to the 2020 Olympic Games.

Baseball and softball have been out of the Olympics since 2008. They are competing against seven other sports for inclusion in the 2020 Games.

Co-President Don Porter said: “Our vision is to give every boy and girl in the world a chance to play baseball and softball and to inspire them to take up the sport through the Olympic Games”.

He said the new federation is looking at ways to make baseball and softball more appealing to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), story including shortening the time of games.

WBSC also revealed the theme for its Olympic Games campaign, doctor “Swing for the Fences,” heralding a global call-to-action for baseball and softball players, supporters and teams to rally behind the Olympic Games bid. The WBSC also unveiled their new logo.

The WBSC’s Olympic Games campaign is also supported by professional baseball and softball leagues around the word, including Nippon Professional Baseball, Major League Baseball in the United States, Korean Baseball Organization, the Chinese Professional Baseball Leagues, and numerous league partners in Latin America, Australia and Europe.

The IOC board will meet in St. Petersburg, Russia next month to shortlist the sports for final consideration to the IOC general assembly in September.

{jcomments on}