Sport's world congratulates WBSC Europe for new unity

Sport's world congratulates WBSC Europe for new unity
21/11/2021
The WBSC Europe Extraordinary Congress was held in the Salone D’Onore at the headquarters of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) in Rome, Italy.

Friday's decision by European baseball and softball leaders to unite together as WBSC Europe received the congratulations from key personalities across the sports world.

Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) President Giovanni Malagò addressed the WBSC Europe Congress, held in the CONI headquarters in Rome and commended the delegates for making the key decision.

“It is a very special moment for baseball and softball, I’m very happy with the result because it is the best choice for these fantastic disciplines and most of all, it gives you unity and clarity," Malago said. "As a member of the LA28 Coordination Commission I remind you of the importance of being united. Of course baseball and softball has a rich history in the United States and we have the strong history of baseball and softball inside the Olympic programme but everything is changing in sport very quickly. We have had so many new disciplines and baseball softball is a traditional sport so its very important to maintain this unity in Europe and the rest of the world.

“Congratulations to you and to President Fraccari who continues to inspire through his leadership through this continent and around the globe.”

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said in his speech at the Extraordinary Congress that: “WBSC Europe is now a key part of the global baseball and softball movement, it is a major stakeholder of the WBSC, it will now be even easier to work together, and this will help us have softball and baseball not only in the Los Angeles 28 Games, but permanently on the Olympic schedule”.

USA Softball CEO and WBSC Softball Executive Vice President Craig Cress was a special guest at the Extraordinary Congress and congratulated the European members on taking an important decision in what is an exciting time for international baseball and softball.

“With the likes of Baseball5, eSport, egaming taking the world by storm, these new ways of interacting with our sport are a reality and we have to capitalise on it so it is very important that we keep an open mind and you have shown the way by the decisions you have taken here in Rome.

"As we move forward, we have to embrace these changes, make it work for us to make our sport better. That is what I have seen at the European Congress for the many years that I have attended, you are all open minded and communicate very openly, which is key. When you get both sides of the story you get better decisions. You have unity, making you an example of leadership for baseball and softball around the world.”

WBSC Europe Congress news:
- New WBSC Europe Constitution approved in Rome, paving the way for the future of European Baseball and Softball
- Sports world congratulates WBSC Europe for new unity
- WBSC briefs Europe on Baseball5, eSport and key integrity policies