The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) this week hosted Council meetings for the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF) at its new headquarters, ‘Home Plate’, in Pully, Switzerland.
Between them, GAISF and ARISF represent more than 125 International Federations, and both umbrella bodies are led by their President Dr Raffaele Chiulli.
The WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari, who is also the ARISF Secretary General and a GAISF Council Member, attended both Council meetings. The GAISF Council was held on 17 September whilst the ARISF Council meeting took place the following day.
Home Plate was inaugurated in July this year at an opening ceremony attended by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach. The headquarters are an exemplar of sustainable development and have been designed to meet many of the WBSC’s sustainability goals, respecting the guidelines set forth in Olympic Agenda 2020.
Speaking after the GAISF and ARISF Council meetings, Fraccari said: “Our ambition when establishing our new and permanent global headquarters in Pully – adjacent to the Olympic capital, Lausanne – was to make sustained and substantial contributions to the Olympic Movement.
“Our offices were built with functionality in mind and we are delighted to be sharing this functionality with members from our Olympic Family.”
GAISF and ARISF President Raffaele Chiulli said: “I want to thank President Fraccari and all of the WBSC staff for hosting us at their new headquarters. Our meetings in this lovely setting and facilities here have been very productive. We look forward to returning again soon.”
