WBSC partners with ANOCA, Olympafrica to promote baseball, softball, Baseball5 on the African continent

WBSC partners with ANOCA, Olympafrica to promote baseball, softball, Baseball5 on the African continent
25/10/2021
WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari, ANOCA President Mustapha Berraf (pictured signing with President Fraccari) and Olympafrica Foundation CEO Alassane Diack signed an MOU today in Crete, Greece. ASOIF President Francesco Ricci Bitti and ANOCA Secretary General Ahmed Abu Elgasim were also in attendance.

CRETE, Greece -- 25 October 2021 -- The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) is partnering with the Olympafrica Foundation and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) to promote baseball and softball in Africa. The three organisations today signed an MOU at the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) General Assembly in Crete, Greece.

According to the MOU, the three organisations will collaborate to promote sports and sports education in general in Africa, and the sports of baseball and softball in particular, through initiatives such as the introduction of Baseball5 as a development tool and competitive discipline across the continent.

It also includes the encouragement of social, economic and personal development through sport, especially for younger athletes; the promotion of the values and ideals of the Olympic movement; and the promotion of peace through common sports interests, activities and cooperation.

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said: “This is a very important day for our sport in Africa. The development of baseball, softball and Baseball5 around the world, engaging new and young audiences as well as using our sport as a tool for sustainable development are key parts of our strategic goals and this agreement with Olympafrica and ANOCA will help accordingly by opening a wide range of opportunities for baseball and softball fans across Africa, especially in the build up towards Baseball5’s debut at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the African Beach Games.”

ANOCA President Mustapha Berraf said: “We’re looking forward to working together with the WBSC and Olympafrica to promote the wonderful benefits of sport to the youth of Africa, especially with such a dynamic, versatile and popular sport as baseball, softball and Baseball5.”

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Olympafrica CEO Alassane Diack said: “The Olympafrica Family is happy to announce the signing of an agreement with the WBSC. Africa has many talented youths that will definitely perform very well in baseball, especially the innovative Baseball5, which will allow our kids to show their athletic abilities. Millions of African kids will definitely enjoy the game. See you in 2026 where we will definitely be among the top teams.”

The joint initiative will be launched across five Olympafrica training centers, a number that could be increased after the first year of implementation. The WBSC will provide all necessary equipment and coaching training to Olympafrica centers for the development of Baseball5.