WBSC GLOBAL NEWSLETTER June 2020

July 2, 2020

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WBSC
Don Porter, international softball leader, past WBSC co-President dies at 90

Former International Softball Federation (ISF) President and World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Co-President Don Porter passed away on 7 June, in his hometown of Oklahoma City (OK), USA. He was 90 years old. Porter served as president of the International Softball Federation (ISF) for 26 years and played a pivotal role in softball's debut on the Olympic Programme at the 1996 Atlanta Games. He was also Co-President, together with Riccardo Fraccari, helping to establish the WBSC in 2013.

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WBSC Executive Board honours memory of international softball pioneer Don Porter

The WBSC Executive Board paid tribute to former Co-President and international softball leader Don Porter during its online meeting on 10 June with WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari acknowledging the impressive number of tributes received by the organization.

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#WorldRefugeeDay: Baseball-softball look to make a difference in the global refugee crisis

On World Refugee Day, 20 June, the WBSC stood together in support of all refugees around the world and reiterated its commitment to using the unique power of baseball-softball -- and sport -- to foster social cohesion and boost the mental and physical wellbeing of the displaced. As a proud member of the UNHCR and International Olympic Committee (IOC) "Sports Coalition", the WBSC has made pledges to improve the accessibility of baseball and softball to refugees.

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WBSC shares IOC goal of gender equality on and off the field

A total of 47.7 percent of positions across the 30 IOC commissions are now held by women. Members include WBSC Vice President Beatrice Allen and Commission Member Yumilka Ruiz. WBSC organizes and sanctions women's and men's tournaments both in baseball and in softball and staged the first ever mixed gender baseball softball tournament - the WBSC U-12 Mixed Softball World Cup - in Tainan City last year. Baseball5, the new urban version of baseball/softball, is also played by mixed teams.

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The world celebrates World Softball Day, honours Don Porter's memory

On 13 June, the world celebrated the annual World Softball Day, an occasion to display the love for the game. This year's celebration marked 15 years since Don Porter established World Softball Day in 2005 inspired by the June 13th announcement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1991 that women's softball was to be, for the first time in history, included on the Olympic programme. World Softball Day was celebrated across social media, highlighting the game's global footprint and appeal.

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WBSC Executive Board conducts second online meeting in three months

President Riccardo Fraccari addressed the need to adapt to the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic while the Board revised the 2020 calendar. President Fraccari also introduced a new WBSC governance project, which is based on the same model used by ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations).

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WBSC holds video conference with 18 nations across Africa

The continental video conference included African representatives of the national baseball and/or softball federations of Benin, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

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Honouring Olympic Day: WBSC launches training videos to stay active

 

A stay strong, stay active workout video series was launched on Olympic Day - 23 June - on the WBSC's YouTube Channel. Part II was published on 25 June, while Part III of an ongoing series was shown on 29 June.

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WBSC Events
WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2022 to open on 19 February in Auckland, New Zealand

The premier men's softball event in the world will be held from 19-27 February at ELE Rosedale Park in Auckland, New Zealand, with the top players from the best 12 teams in the world competing For the Title of World Champion.

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One year ago: Argentina wins their first ever Softball World Championship

On 23 June 2019, the Argentina Men's National Softball Team shook the world by winning their first-ever WBSC Men's Softball World Championship, coming out on top of a thrilling extra-inning final against Japan in the Czech capital, Prague.

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Philippines Men's National Softball Team members making a difference in fight against COVID-19

Members of the Philippines Men's National Softball Team have put their softball routines on hold to serve their country in a different way: battling the ongoing spread of the COVID-19 around the world and in their homeland.

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Big Read: Mark Sorenson on the future of the New Zealand Men's Softball Team

The 52-year old New Zealand head coach talked about the 2019 WBSC Men's Softball World Championship, the Black Sox program and the lack of recognition for men's softball in his country, in spite of the success they've had in the past.

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