Baseball and softball players, supporters and fans worldwide -- from professional leagues to local clubs and junior teams – will have renewed hope following the formal launch of a global campaign to get baseball and softball back onto the Olympic programme for 2020.
During a packed press conference in Tokyo on 16 April, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) was officially born, with International Softball Federation (ISF) President Don Porter and International Baseball Federation (IBAF) President Riccardo Fraccari signing the WBSC Constitution as Co-Presidents.
Historic day
"This is an historic day", said Riccardo Fraccari. "We have brought a new level of worldwide unity and determination to our quest to return to the Games. The 65 million currently playing baseball and softball around the world now have a single federation to rally behind. This is in the best interests of the athletes and the future of sports. We want to inspire young athletes to stand on the highest podium that an athlete can aspire to – the Olympic Games.”
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. Baseball-softball is a game that anyone, anywhere can play. There are no barriers to participation. If you've got a bat and ball you can play, regardless of age, gender, social, cultural or economic stature. Baseball and softball help to empower women and provide pathways for women and young girls to experience and participate in sport in all cultures.”
Two-time Japanese softball Olympian Yukiko Ueno and two-time World Championship athlete Nana Okamura were on hand to help unveil the campaign logo, theme and website, along with Canadian Olympian Jennifer Yee.
New logo
The WBSC's new logo for the campaign symbolizes the unique appeal that has made baseball and softball among the world's most watched, followed and commercially successful sporting brands and experiences.
The theme for the Olympic Games campaign, "Swing for the Fences”, heralds a global call-to-action for baseball and softball players, supporters and teams to rally behind the Olympic Games bid.