World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) President Riccardo Fraccari visited the Turkish Olympic Committee (TOC) headquarters this week to discuss how the two organisations can grow the popularity of baseball and softball in Turkey.
The meeting enabled President Fraccari to meet with senior TOC officials and Turkish Baseball, Softball, American Football and Rugby Federation President Murat Pazan, to share ideas about the future of baseball and softball in Turkey.
“We will make some of the world’s leading coaches and officers available to Turkey, to implement a project that can contribute to efforts to spread baseball and softball across the country,” Fraccari said at the meeting. “By increasing the number of athletes and coaches, I believe that this could lead to great growth and a new passion for the sport throughout Turkey.”
Fraccari and the accompanying delegation also visited the Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports, Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu, where a number of topics were discussed, including future projects that could be put into practice in the country.
At the end of 2018, the TOC, the WBSC and the Turkish Baseball, Softball, American Football and Rugby Federation held a week-long seminar for baseball and sofball coaches and umpires in the City of Antalya, Turkey. The successful seminar was held from 13-19 December 2018 and was supported by the International Olympic Commitee’s (IOC) Olympic Solidarity fund. The seminar welcomed approxamitely 70 coaches, athletes and umpires to learn about the latest rules, strategies and practical sessions for baseball and softball. The seminar was led by experienced coaches and umpires, which were provided by WBSC and the European Sofball Federation (ESF).
Currently, Turkey is ranked No. 28 in the Men’s Softball World Rankings, and No. 53 in Women’s Softball World Rankings. They have no ranking points in baseball (both men and women).
