26/12/2023 3 Minute Read

2023 Year in Review: Federation Focus breaks new ground including new eSport focus

The series, launched in early 2020, has shone the spotlight on 40 different programmes. In 2023, most of the episodes were dedicated to the new eSport approach.

The 2023 edition of the Federation Focus series featured nine episodes. The number of members visited since the launch in early 2020 grew to 34.

The series renovated itself in its fourth year. The first three episodes had the same approach as the 2020, 2021 and 2022 series. The other nine articles focused on the approach to eSport.

February - Philippines Softball

The Philippines began playing softball, initially conceived as indoor baseball, before the game was even named softball. The country advocated the new game and showcased it at the Far Eastern Games in Shangai, China in 1915. More recently, the softball teams - called Blue Girls and Blue Boys - have become synonymous with success in the country.

The challenging COVID years forced activity cancellation in the islands but 2022 and 2023 became the renaissance years for Philippines Softball. The National Teams participated in the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2022 and in the Women's Softball World Cup 2023 group stage.

March - South Africa Softball

South Africa started playing women's softball in 1946 and the men's game in 1947. The South African Softball Association was established in 1949. In 1960, the South African Softball Association president, Jan Crafford, backed Australia's idea of a Women's Softball World Championship.

South Africa was suspended from international softball from 1975 to 1994 due to apartheid.

The current softball governing body, Softball South Africa (SSA), was born in 1992 following a merger of the South African Softball Association, the South African Softball Federation and the South African Softball Congress.

Under president Mashilo Matsetela, SSA runs men's and women's National Championships, the School or U-17 National Championships, and the University or U-23 National Championship.

SSA partners with the South African Baseball Union to select the national Baseball5 teams.

April - Renaissance in Hong Kong

The Baseball Association of Hong Kong, China (BAHKC) has 95 affiliated men's baseball, women's baseball and Baseball5 teams. The active players are 1,264.

Baseball was first introduced to Hong Kong in the 1940s, likely from mainland China, where the game developed in the 1920s, but it was not until 1993 that BAHKC was founded.

After the COVID years severely limited baseball activity, 2022 proved a renaissance year. The introduction of Baseball5, supported by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), boosted interest.

In 2024, Hong Kong will host the second WBSC Baseball5 World Cup at the Central Harbourfront Event Space.

eSport Federation Focus Series

2023 was an exhilarating, electrifying and elevating year in eSport for the WBSC.
As members engaged in the new discipline, Federation Focus dedicated six episodes to their approach to eSport.

2 August: Chinese Taipei Baseball Association
9 August Venezuela
27 September USA
18 October Italy
15 November Argentina
12 December Costa Rica

Argentina, Italy, and the United States have been added to the list of members featured in the Federation Focus series since it launched in 2020. Chinese Taipei, Venezuela and Costa Rica already appeared in the previous edition.

The six episodes are run in a Q&A format. The first part of the questions is about the history of the member federation and their baseball/softball activity.

The second part is more specific on WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS.

Chinese Taipei Baseball Association (CTBA)

CTBA runs one of the most successful baseball programs in the world. Three of the Olympic Esports Series 2023 finalists were from the territory while the CTBA organized the CTBA eBASEBALL Cup in August.

CTBA believes that eBaseball "will help teach fans about different nationalities and the history of baseball."

Venezuelan Baseball Federation (FEVEBEISBOL)

Venezuela is another baseball powerhouse. The National Federation organized the FEVEBEISBOL eBASEBALL Cup in August.

According to FEVEBEISBOL, eBaseball provides "children, youth and adults with an opportunity to participate in organised and structured competition" and "will encourage many people to continue enjoying and commit to practicing the country’s primary sport through this new discipline."

USA Baseball

The USA eBaseball Cup took place in October followed by the USA eBASEBALL Finals in November.

USA Baseball, another baseball world superpower, "hopes to reach new audiences and provide unique opportunities for non-traditional baseball participation" through eBaseball.

"Our hope," added USA Baseball, "is to find new ways to grow a love for baseball and softball within our communities and to generate excitement surrounding the game through our presence at the WBSC eBASEBALL™ Series."

Italian Baseball Softball Federation (FIBS)

Italy has played organised baseball since 1948 and launched a women's softball league in 1969. The FIBS eBASEBALL Cup took place in October.

FIBS sees eBaseball as "a perfect way to engage a new average young target. Girls and boys who perhaps play digital baseball without being aware that even in our country, there is a structured sporting activity that they could approach as athletes but also as umpires, scorers, and future parents. Widening the community and awareness,"

Argentine Baseball Federation (FAB)

The FAB eBASEBALL Cup happened in late November. Argentina introduced baseball in the 19th century but is to be considered a developing baseball country. They will try to qualify for the next WBSC U-12 and U-15 Baseball World Cups in 2024.

FAB aims at reaching "more people globally" through eBaseball.

"The benefit will be accessing an electronic sport. Nowadays, everyone plays with consoles and computers. A baseball variant will allow us to gain market share, increase support and sign new players."

Costa Rica Baseball Federation

In 2023, the Costa Rica Baseball Federation turned 100 years old. The celebrations culminated with the 100th Anniversary eBASEBALL Cup from 18 to 24 December.

The Federation believes that eBaseball "will add more fans, knowledge and interest in the game."

After serving as the 100th-anniversary celebration, eBaseball will be instrumental in reaching "new markets, more fans."

"It will be one more discipline of our sport, baseball. By 2024, we will be including it in the school program," added the Costa Rica Baseball Federation.