The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), together with WBSC Europe and host federations of WBSC Europe tournaments this year, have granted financial and logistic support to the Ukraine National Baseball and Softball Teams to assist with their potential participation in this year’s European Championships.
In line with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) task force to support the Ukrainian Olympic Community, the WBSC, WBSC Europe and local organising committees will grant support to the Ukraine Baseball Softball Federation to cover a major part of the cost related to accommodation, board and transport during its participation in European Championships in 2022.
The calendar of WBSC Europe events this year includes seven tournaments:
BASEBALL
- U-12 Baseball European Championship - 5 – 9 July in Vienna, AUT
- U-18 Baseball European Championship Qualifier - 4 – 9 July in Trnava, SVK
- U-15 Baseball European Championship Qualifier - 18 – 23 July in Budapest, HUN
- U-23 Baseball European Championship Qualifier - 8 – 13 August in Ljubljana, SLO
SOFTBALL
- U-22 Women´s Softball European Championship - 27 June – 3 July in Kunovice, CZE
- U-15 Women´s Softball European Championship - 18 – 23 July in Enschede, NED
- Women´s Softball European Championship - 24 – 30 July in Sant Boi, ESP
In addition, some local organising committees have offered the opportunity to accommodate Ukraine in advance of the tournaments, to help the teams prepare for the continental events.
Ukrainian athletes have also received support from local European baseball and softball leagues, giving them the chance to keep practising and playing this season.
Since the beginning of the war, the WBSC has supported the IOC Executive Board’s condemnation of the breach by the Russian government of the Olympic Truce. In a statement in February, the WBSC said it stands in solidarity with Ukraine and the entire international sports movement in its call to end the violence and restore peace.
One of the last sporting events to take place in Ukraine before the Russian invasion was the Baseball5 National Championship on 21 February.
