The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has awarded the North African nation of Tunisia the hosting rights for the first-ever WBSC Congress, which will be held in Hammamet, Tunisia from 10-11 May 2014.
The historic inaugural WBSC Congress will unite all national governing bodies of the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) and the International Softball Federation (ISF) for the first time under the umbrella of the WBSC. Elections will be held during the Congress to select all positions on the WBSC Executive Board, including that of President.
The BSF and the BBF have yet to decide whether they will send delegates.
First for Africa
Neither an IBAF or an ISF Congress has ever been organised in Africa – but the continent is now a primary target of the WBSC's growth strategy to deepen baseball and softball's global footprint.
With the decision to award the Congress to Tunisia, WBSC officials have confirmed that the focus will be on those emerging territories with high potential for development, where baseball and softball can be introduced to activate the youth demographic, promote gender equality and encourage greater universality. Particular attention will be given to territories where National Federations can build and reinforce national teams for international competition.
"This is another key milestone -- across many levels -- for the global evolution of baseball and softball," said WBSC Co-Presidents Riccardo Fraccari and Don Porter. “We are not only honoured but we are particularly proud to have Tunisia as the host of the WBSC's very first Congress."
Logistics
The provisional schedule for the WBSC Congress is:
- Friday 9 May: Arrival of delegates.
- Saturday-Sunday 10-11 May: Special General Meeting (Congress).
- Monday 12 May: Departure of delegates.
The cost for accommodation, including full board for one Delegate per member Federation (baseball and softball) will be paid for by the WBSC for three nights (9-11 May), as well as local transport from Tunis international Airport to and from the Congress hotel in Hammamet. Delegates will be required to fund their travel arrangements.
With regard to visa issues, the Tunisian local organisers will provide invitation letters to be presented at the Tunisian Embassy within each Delegate's jurisdiction.
Opportunities
WBSC's Fraccari and Porter noted that baseball and softball's union has resulted in increased opportunities and reach -- and has raised the potential legacy and value of WBSC events so that new hosts like Tunisia are showing serious interest for the first time.
In January, WBSC officials hailed the opening of Central Africa's historic first-ever national baseball and softball stadium in Uganda.
"We are committed to growing the appeal and relevance of baseball and softball in emerging territories across Africa and around the world,” the Co-Presidents announced, “and Tunisia's excellent bid is a key indicator that underscores baseball and softball's continued worldwide emergence and highlights the attractiveness, benefits and realities of baseball and softball's partnership.”
Olympic hopes
The WBSC was officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the sole competent authority for the administration of the sports of baseball and softball at the world level in September 2013, after Congresses of the IBAF and ISF took a landmark decision in late 2012 to establish the WBSC as the single body to oversee baseball and softball. Since its establishment, the WBSC has been led by an interim Executive Board.
The election of a full Executive, and the international development focus of the WBSC, will hopefully stand the sports in good stead when the IOC makes a final decision in December 2014 on the possibility of bringing the sports back to the Olympic programme for the 2020 Games in Tokyo.