World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)

January 1, 2021

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WBSC Global Newsletter
December 2020

End-of-the-year message from WBSC President to the global Baseball Softball community


World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) President Riccardo Faccari addressed baseball and softball leaders, players, media and fans around the world in his end-of-year message.

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Beng Choo Low: 2020 accelerates adaptation and progress for international baseball/softball


WBSC Secretary General Beng Choo Low reflects on the many challenges and triumphs of 2020 in the following end-of-year message to National Baseball and Softball Federations, Continental Associations and Associate Members.

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WBSC approves E-Sports as new discipline and virtual version of Baseball/Softball, setting stage for future official World Cup video games


“The WBSC looks forward to more progressive innovation in the dynamic and youth-focused space of E-Sports and E-Games, which will potentially expand the reach of our sport to millions of gamers and fans,” says WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari.

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WBSC welcomes Cape Verde Baseball Softball Federation, Italian Association of Baseball for the Blind as newest Members


The Cape Verde Baseball Softball Federation becomes the 198th National Federation Member, and the 28th in Africa. The Italian Association Baseball for the Blind is the 13th Associate Member.

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WBSC Executive Board executes online meeting, decisions


The WBSC Executive Board, during its fifth and last online meeting of 2020, reviewed the report of the Baseball and Softball working groups, which discussed plans concerning future WBSC events, especially taking into consideration COVID-19 health and safety regulations, with further discussions planned ahead of the next Executive Board meeting in February.

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Softball Australia unveils preliminary roster for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games


Softball Australia announced a National Selection Camp to provide the opportunity for athletes to impress selectors and secure a spot in the 2021 Aussie Spirit squad vying for Olympic selection. The training camp will take place at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) from 18 February – 3 March 2021.

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Sports ministry celebrates success of Japan National Teams in WBSC Premier 12, Softball World Cups


Japanese National Baseball and Softball Teams were among the nation's athletes recognised and awarded by the Japan Sports Agency for their outstanding performances in 2019. The Samurai Japan squad won the top international baseball competition of 2019, the II WBSC Premier12, while Japanese National Softball Teams won the WBSC U-18 Softball World Cup 2020 and placed second at the WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship 2019.

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Art & Softball exhibition in Peru displays 70 original collectibles that can be purchased


On 5 December, the Peru Softball Federation launched the I Expo Arte & Softball "Carreras (Runs) 2020" with the showing of 70 original art pieces related to softball, made by 27 Peruvian artists. The activity is intended to promote the maiden WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup, which will be held in Lima from 28 August to 5 September 2021.

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2020 in Review: Baseball-softball global activity remains strong in challenging times


The past 12 months have certainly not been the year the world imagined. But despite the significant impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on the 2020 international sports calendar, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) -- and the sport of baseball and softball -- will potentially become stronger, and also grow in different ways in the years to come as a result of the challenges faced this year.

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2020: U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup - Japan wins lone global baseball/softball event in 2020


On 1 March 2020, the inaugural WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup came to an end in Palmerston North, New Zealand, when Japan and Australia faced off in the Gold Medal Game. Held just a few weeks before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup turned into the first and only WBSC World Cup, baseball or softball, played in 2020.

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WBSC passes 750k followers on social media


Among Olympic-sport world governing bodies, the WBSC ranks amongst the most engaging accounts on Twitter. The year 2021 is set to be an explosive one for international baseball and softball’s digital media footprint.

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2020: Global baseball-softball development doesn’t stop amid global pandemic


We look back on how WBSC development has continued despite the impact of COVID-19. Baseball and softball are currently being practiced by approximately 65 million people across 140+ countries and territories around the world. The WBSC is aiming to boost those numbers this decade with aggressive development plans.

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2020: Olympic Softball architect Don Porter passes away; U-18 Men only World Cup played in disrupted year


Softball season, was marked by the loss of the legendary softball leader and the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup, the only WBSC official event of the year.

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2020 in Review: WBSC Athletes Commission stays active, reviews game amid COVID-19 pandemic


The WBSC has 198 National Federation Members, the bodies that govern baseball and softball in their countries and/or territories. The goal of the column named 'Federation Focus' was to hear their voices and learn about baseball/softball culture and activity in around the world.

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COVID-19: WBSC Updates in 2020


The WBSC has compiled a timeline of news articles regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global baseball softball season in 2020, including key announcements from the WBSC.

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New dates announced for 2021 Women’s European Softball Championship


Softball Europe revealed new dates for the 2021 Women’s European Softball Championship. The continental event will take place from 27 June to 3 July in Italy's Friuli Venezia Giulia Region. The continental event will take place from 27 June to 3 July in Italy's Friuli Venezia Giulia Region.

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First wheelchair softball field inaugurated in Japan

Baseball and softball are set to become more accessible and "user-friendly" than ever. Japan’s first wheelchair softball facility was inaugurated last Saturday, 5 December, in Higashi-Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture. Festivities included a ceremonial wheelchair softball game that included Olympic softball players and elementary school students. In addition, a wheelchair softball tournament was held that brought together six teams from all over the country.

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MLB elevates Negro Leagues to Major League status


As an immediate result, the statistics and records of over 3,400 players will become a part of Major League Baseball’s history. 2020 is the year of the centennial celebration of the first of seven leagues active until 1948.

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Softball Asia Congress confirms three qualifiers for WBSC World Cups in 2021


Next year, Softball Asia will host the Men’s Softball Asia Cup (host and dates to be confirmed), that will qualify two teams for the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup 2022, the U-23 Men’s Softball Asia Cup (tentative host - Singapore) that will grant two spots for the maiden WBSC U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup, as well as a qualifying tournament for the inaugural WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2022.


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Africa: Youth initiation event held in Zambia to promote baseball, softball, Baseball5


Aiming to raise awareness and increase participation of women in sport, especially in Baseball5, the Zambia Baseball Softball Association (ZABSA) held their “Triple Sport Launch", an introductory activity for youth participants with 116 players in Lusaka.

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