Two-time USA Olympic softball medallist Jennie Finch was one of three athletes to receive the “Power of I” award on February 19 at the International Olympic Committee’s 5th World Conference on Women and Sport in Los Angeles, and she used the occasion to make a powerful call for softball to be reinstated to the Olympic Games.
The other athletes to receive the award were former gymnast Nadia Comaneci and figure skater Michelle Kwan.
Here is the full text of Jennie's speech:
“Thank you. This is truly such a special award. I want to thank Intelius for sponsoring this incredible event, and the IOC for this conference. I would also like to thank the International Softball Federation for providing the platform to reach so many young female athletes all over the world.
This award is one of the greatest awards that I’ve received because it goes beyond the playing field, which I like to call ‘This special, magical gift of sport.’ The magical gift inspires others and makes a difference with the platforms we’ve been given.
When I was an eight-year old girl, pigtails and a glove in the backyard with my two older brothers, I had a dream of competing in the greatest sporting event in the world, the Olympic Games. I was blessed with the opportunity to be a part of two Olympic Games, two Olympic teams,
and to see the sport of softball grow and to be now played in over 130 countries. I have seen the growth and witnessed first-hand the development of the sport of fastpitch softball on all seven continents. There are millions of softball players in all of the world with the same dream that I had. I hope this one day can be a reality for them as it was myself.
I would like to thank and accept this award tonight on behalf of the women that have paved the way, along with the millions of softball players who deserve the very same opportunity, who are right now eight years old and looking for a dream – a dream to hang onto, a dream to play in the Olympic Games. Softball has taught me so much about life, teamwork, discipline, sacrifice, leadership, and more. But most importantly, that magical gift that goes beyond any playing field, and that’s inspiring others.
I know this is about the 'Power of I' and I’m fully aware of the 'Power of I'. We can all make a difference. We all have it within us to make this world a better place and to leave our mark. However, I am part of a team, and there is no 'I' in 'team'. There are so many softball players, teammates, trainers and coaches making a difference. This award is for the sport of softball and the millions of players all across the world that have the Olympic dream.
This ball was one of the ‘first pitch’ balls that was thrown in the 2008 Olympic Beijing Games in China. I wanted to bring this ball up here as a symbol of hope, that it’ll one day be back in the Olympic Games, where it belongs.
During last night’s Opening Ceremonies, several leaders of the Olympic Movement spoke of the 45 percent participation female status statistic. As an Olympian I stand here today and I challenge all of you to make those numbers increase for the future. That 45 percent that we were all so very proud of, which we should be, but there’s no reason we can’t get that 45 percent up to 50 percent.
As a female athlete, we’re supposed to leave the game with greater opportunity for the next generation, and unfortunately this wasn’t the case for me and my sport of softball. Instead the platform, foundation, and dreams that were established through appearances in four Olympic Games were taken away.
As we in softball continue to forge ahead for reinstatement, I ask you to please help softball get back in the Olympic Games and allow others to experience the magic, the true magic of sport, the magic of the Olympic Games.
Thank you all.”