World Baseball Softball Confederation

World Baseball Softball Confederation is the international governing body for Baseball and Softball, recognized by the International Olympic Committee and Association of Summer Olympic International Federations. The organization was formed in 2013 through the merger of the International Baseball Federation and the International Softball Federation, with the goal of promoting and developing the sports of Baseball and Softball worldwide, in collaboration with Major League Baseball, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, and Little League International. The World Baseball Softball Confederation is also affiliated with the European Baseball Confederation, Asian Baseball Federation, and Pan American Baseball Confederation, among others, including the Australian Baseball Federation and Canadian Baseball Network.

● History

The World Baseball Softball Confederation was established on April 14, 2013, in Tokyo, Japan, with the merger of the International Baseball Federation and the International Softball Federation, following the decision of the International Olympic Committee to drop Baseball and Softball from the Olympic Games program after the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The new organization was formed with the goal of reunifying the sports of Baseball and Softball and promoting their joint bid for inclusion in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, with the support of Japanese Baseball League, Nippon Professional Baseball, and Japan Softball Association. The World Baseball Softball Confederation has also worked closely with the United States Olympic Committee, USA Baseball, and Amateur Softball Association to promote the development of Baseball and Softball in the United States, as well as with the Chinese Baseball Association and Chinese Softball Association to promote the sports in China.

● Governance

The World Baseball Softball Confederation is governed by a Board of Directors composed of representatives from the International Baseball Federation and the International Softball Federation, as well as independent members, including Riccardo Fraccari, Don Porter, and Dale McMann. The organization is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and has established partnerships with various international organizations, including the International University Sports Federation, European University Sports Association, and Asian University Sports Federation, as well as with the National Collegiate Athletic Association and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The World Baseball Softball Confederation has also collaborated with the International Paralympic Committee and World Disability Baseball to promote the development of Baseball and Softball for athletes with disabilities, including the Beijing Paralympic Games and London Paralympic Games.

● Membership

The World Baseball Softball Confederation has a total of 198 member countries, including United States, Japan, China, South Korea, and Cuba, as well as Australia, Canada, and Mexico. The organization is divided into five continental confederations: the Asian Baseball Federation, European Baseball Confederation, Pan American Baseball Confederation, African Baseball Federation, and Oceania Baseball Confederation, each of which has its own governing body and membership, including the Korean Baseball Organization, Chinese Professional Baseball League, and Nippon Professional Baseball. The World Baseball Softball Confederation has also established relationships with various national governing bodies, including the United States Olympic Committee, Canadian Olympic Committee, and Australian Olympic Committee, as well as with the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and Little League International.

● Competitions

The World Baseball Softball Confederation sanctions several international competitions, including the Baseball World Cup, Softball World Championship, and Premier 12, as well as the U-18 Baseball World Cup and U-15 Baseball World Cup, which are organized in collaboration with the International Baseball Federation and International Softball Federation. The organization has also established partnerships with various international events, including the Olympic Games, Asian Games, and Pan American Games, as well as with the World University Baseball Championship and World University Softball Championship, which are organized by the International University Sports Federation. The World Baseball Softball Confederation has also worked with the Major League Baseball and National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum to promote the development of Baseball and Softball worldwide, including the World Baseball Classic and Softball World Cup.

● Development

The World Baseball Softball Confederation has established various development programs to promote the growth of Baseball and Softball worldwide, including the Baseball Development Program and Softball Development Program, which provide training and resources for coaches, umpires, and players, in collaboration with the International Baseball Federation and International Softball Federation. The organization has also established partnerships with various international organizations, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and International Labour Organization, to promote the development of Baseball and Softball in disadvantaged communities, including the Baseball for All program and Softball for All program, which are supported by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and Little League International. The World Baseball Softball Confederation has also worked with the Japanese Baseball League and Nippon Professional Baseball to promote the development of Baseball in Japan and Asia, as well as with the Chinese Baseball Association and Chinese Softball Association to promote the sports in China.

● International Relations

The World Baseball Softball Confederation has established relationships with various international organizations, including the International Olympic Committee, Association of Summer Olympic International Federations, and Global Association of International Sports Federations, as well as with the United Nations and its agencies, including the United Nations Children's Fund and United Nations Development Programme. The organization has also collaborated with various international events, including the Olympic Games, Asian Games, and Pan American Games, to promote the development of Baseball and Softball worldwide, including the World Baseball Classic and Softball World Cup, which are organized in collaboration with the Major League Baseball and National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The World Baseball Softball Confederation has also worked with the European Baseball Confederation, Asian Baseball Federation, and Pan American Baseball Confederation to promote the development of Baseball and Softball in their respective regions, including the European Baseball Championship and Asian Baseball Championship. Category:International sports organizations