The World Baseball Softball Confederation
(WBSC) Executive Board has approved a number of important changes to the WBSC Statutes
at its meeting on 6 September, 2023 in order to capitalise on the growing
popularity of international Baseball/Softball.
The decisions, which will be put forward to
the WBSC Congress to vote in December, include the removal of the WBSC Baseball
and Softball Divisions from the leadership group in order to have one combined
Executive Board to further reflect the focus on one sport Baseball/Softball and
to better serve and safeguard its best interests.
Two additional permanent Commissions for
Baseball and Softball will be created to ensure that the best interests of
baseball and softball continue to be represented. The Executive Vice Presidents
for Baseball and Softball on the WBSC Executive Board will chair the respective
Commissions.
Another change in the Statutes will see increased
representation of Continental Associations with 10 representatives to be
included on the Executive Board to improve cooperation and their involvement in
the day-to-day operations of the WBSC. Each Continent will elect one
representative for Baseball and one for Softball to the board.
President Riccardo Fraccari said: “The WBSC
is constantly looking to refine its Statutes to ensure that we are serving our
members in the best possible way. We believe that the changes announced today
will strengthen our governance and help Baseball/Softball continue to thrive
across the world. We have made great progress in the nine years since the
international federations for Baseball and Softball merged and we are confident
that the latest revisions will allow that to continue.”
To fully comply with the Olympic Charter,
the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competition Code will now be recognised
at the same level as the World Anti-Doping Agency Code, while the membership
recognition process has also been aligned for this purpose.
The other changes see a larger
representation of independent members on the Integrity and Legal Commissions to
reduce potential conflicts of interest and more comprehensive disciplinary
guidelines to reflect the role that Continental Associations play in this
regard.
With 2024 due to celebrate 10 years since
the merger of the International Baseball Federation and the International
Softball Federation to create the WBSC, the sport of Baseball/Softball and its
multiple disciplines – Baseball, Softball, Baseball5, eSport, Para-sports – has
never been stronger with 205 National Federations and Associate Members in 136
countries promoting and growing the game worldwide while the WBSC’s global
audience on social media now numbers over 1 million.
Meanwhile, the WBSC Executive Board voted to approve two new Members - the Baseball and Softball Federations from Cambodia and Syria - and an Associate Member - Alternative Baseball, which runs Alternative Baseball a baseball experience, which teaches social and physical baseball skills for teens and adults with autism and other special needs. The Board also voted to dismiss the Republic of Congo Baseball and Softball Federation due to lack of activity. These decisions will go forward to the Congress for vote.
