Dear Friends,

In 2013, when we decided to merge the Baseball and Softball worlds into one unique organisation – the World Baseball Softball Confederation – a New Era for our sports was born, and I want to thank all of you, not only for having received your approval and your support, but especially for sharing a common vision and recognising a need for change.

Certainly with the recent changes to the Olympic program and especially IOC Agenda 2020, there is a need for restructuring and also a need to locate alternative revenue sources in order to ensure the development of our sports. We find the international game of baseball and softball at a crossroads, now unite under unique objectives and development hopes and plans. We need to reunite our community to work as a team and strengthen our relationship with the professional bodies. Greater participation of professional organisations and their players could have a major impact play in our community and would significantly improve the current state of international baseball and softball.

We need to redefine and maximise the value of our tournaments; we must continue to develop baseball and softball, both male and female, especially in countries where we are less present; we must strengthen and develop all our disciplines that are involving more and more athletes daily; we must restructure the entire organisation of our institution to be more efficient and attentive to the problems and needs of our members; we must demonstrate that baseball and softball are truly a global sport that involves millions of male and female athletes, coaches, fans, families and youth worldwide. It is a sport present on all continents, capable of attracting the attention of newspapers, television and sponsors because of its universality and because it is widespread. It is a sport that shall always embrace and develop in harmony with the Olympic values, and we will all be fully active toward the permanence of our sport onto the Olympic programme. We are also aware that the choices and decisions that the new Executive Board and I make together will have far reaching effects on the shape and visibility of the organisation.

However, this predicament highlights the need for us to work together with all those involved.

Challenges are ahead of us, but I am confident that with support from all of you and my new team, we can overcome this outstanding moment. Together we can flourish WBSC and establish a new baseball and softball society where each of you plays an integral role. Once again, I thank all of you who supported WBSC and me. It is my hope that your involvement and support will remain steadfast. I encourage all of you to voice your opinions as to our future. The thoughts, comments and suggestions of the international baseball and softball community are always welcomed and encouraged.

WBSC President
Riccardo Fraccari