End of the year message from the WBSC President to the global baseball softball community
End of the year message from the WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari to the global baseball softball community
Dear members, dear athletes, dear fans
The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has continued to make giant strides in 2023 and I am incredibly proud of everything that we have achieved together this year.
On the diamond, we have seen success through another bumper WBSC Events Calendar with 13 tournaments featuring 104 teams across all five Olympic continents. It also included the introduction of new tournaments to ensure that more athletes are given the opportunity to compete internationally. The first editions of the Baseball Champions League, U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup, U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup and Youth Baseball5 World Cup were all a great success.
The inaugural Youth Baseball5 World Cup in Türkiye was particularly significant, not only showcasing the wonderful qualities of our five-on-five, urban discipline but also providing an excellent preview ahead of the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal in 2026. Furthermore, it also showed how our sport provides new opportunities with three African teams participating in a WBSC World Cup on only the second occasion and Türkiye organising a WBSC event for the first time.
The confirmation of baseball and softball on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games sports programme was another special achievement. This was the result of much hard work over the past two years by the WBSC and our major stakeholders, including all the professional leagues and player associations, and for that I want to thank you.
The recent Executive Board meeting applauded this news as well as confirming 10th May as World Baseball Softball Confederation Day. This recognises the tremendous growth and enhancement across our organisation and sport with next year marking the WBSC’s 10-year anniversary.
For this reason, we want to involve all our members, and above all our athletes, fans and out entire community in organising events, meetings and initiatives for 10th May that show the strength of our movement and the global reach of our wonderful sport. Our Media Department is at your disposal to give maximum diffusion and visibility to what you do.
The creation of the WBSC Legacy Club is an excellent example of the WBSC’s innovation and evolution. Not only is the Legacy Club aimed at enhancing social development worldwide by using baseball/softball as a powerful tool for humanitarian and legacy initiatives, but it will help provide opportunities for less developed countries to receive equipment and training where needed.
The growth of eSports is another area of opportunity and we are proud to be among the International Federations at the forefront of this. The inclusion of WBSC eBaseball: POWER PROS in the inaugural Olympic Esports Series and the launch of the WBSC eBaseball Series and ePremier12 were other important milestones for the WBSC in this field, which will help us engage with and attract new, younger audiences to our sport.
As a member of the IOC Esports Commission, I look forward to being at the forefront of future-defining discussions on this topic, which will also help shape the WBSC’s eSport strategy and direction.
The role of the WBSC is to ensure that our sport remains in a strong position in the long-term, both on and off the field. With this in mind, not only am I proud that we published the first WBSC Official Rules of Baseball, but I am particularly pleased with the progress the WBSC, and the five Continental Associations, have made in relation to good governance. Our Governance Review is now in its third round with each of the associations having made significant improvements over the first two rounds.
Everything that we have achieved has been in line with the WBSC’s Strategic Plan 2022-2028, which is focused on the continued growth of baseball/softball worldwide and the further empowerment of our National Federation members. The plan reflects our unwavering commitment to strengthening baseball and softball globally, while ensuring the WBSC is fit for purpose and leading the sport with integrity and focus.
With another impressive events calendar next year - including the inaugural Finals of the Women’s Softball World Cup, Women’s Baseball World Cup and eBaseball Series and culminating in the WBSC’s flagship tournament the Premier12 - as well as the Dakar 2026 Youth and LA2028 Olympic Games on the horizon, we have a very exciting future ahead. One which will cement the status of the current stars of our game and unveil new ones.
At the WBSC, everything we do is to ensure the continued progress of our sport and our athletes. From professional players to young girls and boys playing the game for the first time, we want to give them the best opportunities. So, my final message is to thank all of the athletes and officials who participate, enjoy and share our beautiful game as well as our new Global Sponsors such as KONAMI Digital Entertainment, CARNEXT, KOWA, Nippon Express and MUFG Bank, Ltd., as well as our long-standing Official Suppliers Mizuno, SSK, Synergy, Corpay and new partners such as Alibaba. Thank you for your commitment to our sport and for promoting our game.
I send you all my warmest wishes for a wonderful holiday season and for much happiness and continued success in the coming New Year.
Yours sincerely,
Riccardo Fraccari,
WBSC President
Read More: 2023 Year in Review Series
