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New World Baseball Softball Body

born at historic Tokyo Congress

Marks Milestone toward New Olympic Campaign Logo, Theme, Social Media

Platforms “PlayBall2020.com” and Vision to Give
Olympic Games Inclusion Every Boy & Girl Chance to Play Ball also Launched.

IBAF News (14 April 2013)

Join the PlayBall2020 Lineup on Facebook and show your support!
https://www.facebook.com/PlayBall2020

TOKYO — Baseball and softball players, supporters, and President Fraccari said the international baseball “Baseball-softball is a game that anyone, anywhere can Athlete And Professional League Support
fans worldwide - from professional leagues to local clubs community was “honoured and humbled” to have play. There are no barriers to participation. If you’ve got a of 2020 Olympic Campaign
and junior teams - have come out ‘Swinging For The the opportunity to rejoin the Olympic Games in 2020, bat and ball you can play, regardless of age, gender, social, The WBSC’s Olympic Games campaign is also supported by
Fences’ and pitching for the Olympic Games, following the and thanked the IOC for guidance and trust provided cultural or economic stature. professional baseball and softball leagues around the word,
launch of a global campaign to get baseball and softball in forming the new federation, which he said would including Nippon Professional Baseball, Major League
back into the Games “provide greater support and resources for the athletes “Baseball and softball help to empower women and Baseball in the United States, Korean Baseball Organization,
and help to develop the sports”. provide pathways for women and young girls to experience the Chinese Professional Baseball Leagues, and numerous
The campaign was launched in Tokyo, one of the global and participate in sport in all cultures,” said Porter. league partners in Latin America, Australia and Europe,
power centres for the two sports. It followed an historic Fraccari continued: “We are on a great journey to return who are united in their desire to participate in the Olympic
vote by international baseball and softball federation our global sport to the Olympic stage. We’ve been listening New Campaign Slogan, Website and Logo Games.
leaders and delegates worldwide – from Afghanistan to and learning from the Olympic Family and the IOC to The WBSC also revealed the theme for its Olympic Games
Zimbabwe, including China, India, Iraq, Russia, Brunei, understand what it takes to be included as a sport at the campaign, “Swing for the Fences,” heralding a global call- “I am sure that all of my counterparts in the professional
Nigeria, Ghana, Pakistan, Fiji, South Africa and many other Olympic Games.” to-action for baseball and softball players, supporters and leagues share our enthusiasm for Olympic baseball and
nations - to ratify a landmark constitution that unites the teams to rally behind the Olympic Games bid. softball,“ said Nippon Professional Baseball Commissioner
International Baseball Federation (IBAF) and International “This is in the best interests of the athletes and putting and former Japan US Ambassador, Ryozo Kato, who said
Softball Federation (ISF) as a single new international the welfare of the athletes and the future of sport first, A new website for the campaign was revealed: in an emotional address to the Congress, telling delegates
sporting federation, known as the World Baseball Softball and inspiring young athletes to stand on the highest PlayBall2020.com. Social media platforms to engage and that baseball had helped Japan to recover and grow after
Confederation (WBSC). podium that an athlete can aspire to — the Olympic enable baseball and softball communities worldwide were the devastation of the second world war, and was a
Games,” he said. also unveiled to highlight the massive following the sports catalyst for peace, uniting nations and people from diverse
New World Baseball Softball Body Born have and to share the passion to rejoin the Olympic Games. cultures and backgrounds.
The birth of the world’s newest international sporting “We have reached a milestone in our journey to put
federation is a milestone in the campaign to rejoin baseball and softball back in the Olympic Games, and today The WBSC’s new logo for the campaign was also unveiled. Worldwide respected Japan baseball legend, Sadaharu
the Olympic Games sports program after being I am proud to announce that the full membership of the It symbolizes the unique appeal that has made baseball and Oh, also made a strong personal appeal for support to
delisted in 2005. International Baseball Federation voted to ratify the new softball among the world’s most watched, followed and get baseball back into the Olympic Games, while the
Constitution of the World Baseball Softball Confederation.” commercially successful sporting brands and experiences. President of the Japanese Olympic Committee and IOC
“This is an historic day”, said IBAF president and WBSC member, Tsunekazu Takeda, said he would like to see the
co-president, Riccardo Fraccari. “We have brought a new WBSC Shared Vision to Reach Youth The new federation and Olympic Games inclusion excitement and joy of baseball experienced by people all
level of worldwide unity and determination to our quest The WBSC also outlined its unique vision for the campaign. campaign, has the support of players worldwide, and was over the world, especially among young people.
to return to the Games. The 65 million currently playing “Our vision is to give every boy and girl in the world a launched by two of Japans softball stars, Yukiko Ueno, who
baseball and softball around the world now have a single chance to play baseball and softball and to inspire them to pitched the Japanese team to the Gold Medal at the Beijing
federation to rally behind.” take up the sport through the Olympic Games,” said ISF Olympic Games, and Nana Okamura, a new rising star who
President and WBSC co-President, Don Porter. pitched Japan to victory in U16 ISF Softball World Cup and
became the youngest player ever on Japan’s national team.

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