In a message to all affiliated Federations, World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) President Riccardo Fraccari wanted to thank everyone “for your tireless efforts in promoting baseball and softball in your respective countries. The global appeal and popularity of our sports have played a key role in this achievement, and none of this would have been possible without your unwavering dedication and passion for the development of baseball-softball.”
Fraccari also encouraged the entire movement to continue the promotional effort with the aim of guaranteeing a permanent place for baseball-softball in the Olympic program. To achieve this, it is essential to build on the opportunity provided by LA28 to build concrete projects to inspire young athletes from all over the world to engage in our sport.
Baseball returns to the official program of the Olympic Games for the seventh time, with Team Italy present in four competitions, softball for the sixth time, with the Azzurre qualifying on three occasions.
Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball (FIBS) President Andrea Marcon said, “First of all, I would like to thank and congratulate Riccardo Fraccari and the WBSC for this result, which is by no means a given and behind which lies enormous work. Los Angeles represents a very important opportunity to be seized, not only for the attention and resources it draws on our activities, but also for the objective it gives to all components of the movement, starting with the players who engage onthe field every day. We have four extremely stimulating years ahead of us to prepare ourselves as best we can."
Forza #Italia!
by Marco Landi and Roberto Angotti
(Photo of Team Italy catcher Erika Piancastelli and pitcher Alexia Lacatena in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics courtesy of WBSC)
