The World Games 2022 Organizing Committee, the International World Games Association (IWGA) and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) have revealed the official softball game schedule for the World Games 2022, which will take place from July 9-13, 2022 at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama.
The eight qualified teams (including Group B countries: second-ranked Japan, fourth-ranked Mexico, sixth-ranked Chinese Taipei and eighth-ranked Australia) have been drawn into two groups. After a three-day group stage, the top two teams in each group will advance to the semifinals on Tuesday, July 12, 2022. The bronze and gold medal games will be played on the final day of the international competition on Wednesday, July 13, 2022.
Team Italy faces USA on day one of the World Games 2022 on Saturday, July 9, 2022 at 7 pm (local time). For the Azzurrre women's softball team, these games are very important as the contests will be considered in the overall rankings along with the Tokyo Olympics results in establishing which six countries will qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
“We are looking forward to seeing all six teams which participated in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in action, as well as China and Chinese Taipei, as a new Olympic cycle begins with Los Angeles 2028 the new target,” said WBSC Secretary General Beng Choo Low. “Fans will be able to watch once again the greatest softball teams and players in the world, in what not only has the prize of a World Games title on the line but also the chance to claim the World Champion mantle, which USA last won at the WBSC Women’s Softball World Championship in 2018.”
"Softball was in the program of the first edition of The World Games in 1981 in Santa Clara, California. Now the Games return to the USA, and so offers the US team the chance to perform in front of their own audience and to possibly become The World Games champions once again. We are convinced that the competitions at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium will be a huge hit with fans," said IWGA CEO Joachim Gossow.
“Softball is definitely one of the most anticipated competitions on our program. The World Games 2022 will be the first major international sporting event on American soil with full venues again, and we’re excited to watch these incredible competitors play and ultimately crown the gold medal winner,” said Nick Sellers, CEO of The World Games 2022.
Tickets for the individual competitions are available at twg2022.com/tickets.
The World Games 2022 Opening Ceremony will be held on July 7th at Protective Stadium. Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
