2021 events calendar: WBSC conducts review of tournaments with Continental Associations

2021 events calendar: WBSC conducts review of tournaments with Continental Associations
07/04/2020
The weekly video conference is part of the WBSC’s continued initiatives to maintain regular communication with its members and key stakeholders during this moment of coronavirus precautions and improve efficiency in its day to day operations.

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) President Riccardo Fraccari met with Continental Associations, Baseball and Softball Division Board members and event organisers via video conference on Tuesday to review the status of the WBSC event calendar in 2021, taking into consideration the latest developments concerning the coronavirus pandemic affecting countries all around the world, as well as the follow on effect of the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games from 2020 to 2021.

Not only are the events being staged in 2021 being reviewed but also the continental qualification tournaments for these key events, which would normally be staged in 2020.

Following last week’s postponement of three 2020 events – the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup® , the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup® and the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup tournaments - to a date later in the year still to be determined, the WBSC discussed with Continental Associations the status of their qualification events while also reviewing, with Local Organising Committees, the situation concerning WBSC tournaments next year, always keeping in mind local government and health authority regulations and the safety and well-being of all participants.

WBSC Europe announced last week the postponement of World Cup qualification tournaments to later in 2020 to a date still to be determined. Meanwhile, discussions will continue with all parties and any changes to events will be announced in due course.

The weekly video conference is part of the WBSC’s continued initiatives to maintain regular communication with its members and key stakeholders during this moment of coronavirus precautions and improve efficiency in its day to day operations.

“The meeting today was very productive and a further illustration of how the WBSC is streamlining its operations in order to be more efficient with its day to day operations as well as taking into consideration a sustainable way to maintain regular communication,” President Fraccari said.

“It is very important that we maintain contact with our members during this very difficult time in order to give them a clear view of the situation going forward, once we have clarity, and a pathway for them to organise their own activities at a national level. We will continue discussions going forward in order to update members as soon as we have confirmation of the status of each event.”