African Softball Forum Concluded with Declaration for Back Softball
Attendees, Sports Minister supportive of Olympic reinstatement efforts
Plant City, Florida (USA); 20th April 2009: A written declaration now testifies to unified support voiced by attendees of last week’s African Softball Forum in Banjul, Gambia, for BackSoftball, the campaign to get the sport reinstated for the 2016 Olympic Games.
Such a development was foreshadowed when Gambian Minister of Youth and Sports Sheriff ML Gomez said the following as part of his welcome speech during the opening of the Forum:
“As the Minister responsible for sports, it is encouraging to note that the International Softball Federation is already embarking on a strategy to get softball reinstated into the Olympic programme in 2016…Let me therefore commend the (ISF) for the vision and purpose to develop and expand softball. My encouragement also goes to you in your endeavors to get softball back to the Olympic Games.” (NOTE: A one-page document containing excerpts from Mr. Gomez's speech is available here.)
ISF President Don Porter has returned to the world headquarters following the successful event in the West African country. Before his departure from there two days ago, he presented a plaque to Gambia Softball Association President Beatrice Allen, in appreciation for her coordination of the Forum as well as her efforts that helped establish the sport in her country.
“It was very encouraging to see the turnout we had for this Forum,” Mr. Porter said. “The activity last week can only help fuel even greater growth throughout that continent. The evolution of the Gambia Softball Association should serve as encouragement to developing and potential national softball federations throughout Africa.
“And, the commitment to BackSoftball shows the universality that runs not only throughout our campaign but throughout our game as well, both on and off the field.”
One of many significant outcomes from the Forum was the pledge of a USD$100 thousand development fund for youth by the ISF, as announced last week in partnership with the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and its African counterpart, FASU (African Students Sports Union).
Mr. Porter was joined in Gambia by ISF VP/North America Dale McMann (Canada), and two-time Olympic gold medalist (swimming) Donna de Varona, who along with Mr. McMann are co-chairs of the BackSoftball Task Force. In addition, BackSoftball Athlete Ambassador Lynn Alexander (South Africa) was on-hand, as was ISF Director of Competition Laurie Gouthro, a former softball player and coach. ISF clinician Jim Beitia conducted a session for the Forum attendees on the final day.
Softball was first featured in the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996 and last year’s competition in Beijing was very successful with a total attendance close to 180,000 and a continuation of the sport’s excellent record of no positive doping tests in women’s international softball since testing began in 1982.
A final decision on which sports will be added to the current roster of 26 at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games will be made at the 121st IOC Session in Copenhagen in October this year.
Further information is available in the OTHER DOCUMENTS section of www.BackSoftball.com.
For more information please contact ISF Director of Communications Bruce Wawrzyniak at brucew@internationalsoftball.com, +1 813 864 0100 or +1 813 453 8762
Plant City, Florida (USA); 20th April 2009: A written declaration now testifies to unified support voiced by attendees of last week’s African Softball Forum in Banjul, Gambia, for BackSoftball, the campaign to get the sport reinstated for the 2016 Olympic Games.
Such a development was foreshadowed when Gambian Minister of Youth and Sports Sheriff ML Gomez said the following as part of his welcome speech during the opening of the Forum:
“As the Minister responsible for sports, it is encouraging to note that the International Softball Federation is already embarking on a strategy to get softball reinstated into the Olympic programme in 2016…Let me therefore commend the (ISF) for the vision and purpose to develop and expand softball. My encouragement also goes to you in your endeavors to get softball back to the Olympic Games.” (NOTE: A one-page document containing excerpts from Mr. Gomez's speech is available here.)
ISF President Don Porter has returned to the world headquarters following the successful event in the West African country. Before his departure from there two days ago, he presented a plaque to Gambia Softball Association President Beatrice Allen, in appreciation for her coordination of the Forum as well as her efforts that helped establish the sport in her country.
“It was very encouraging to see the turnout we had for this Forum,” Mr. Porter said. “The activity last week can only help fuel even greater growth throughout that continent. The evolution of the Gambia Softball Association should serve as encouragement to developing and potential national softball federations throughout Africa.
“And, the commitment to BackSoftball shows the universality that runs not only throughout our campaign but throughout our game as well, both on and off the field.”
One of many significant outcomes from the Forum was the pledge of a USD$100 thousand development fund for youth by the ISF, as announced last week in partnership with the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and its African counterpart, FASU (African Students Sports Union).
Mr. Porter was joined in Gambia by ISF VP/North America Dale McMann (Canada), and two-time Olympic gold medalist (swimming) Donna de Varona, who along with Mr. McMann are co-chairs of the BackSoftball Task Force. In addition, BackSoftball Athlete Ambassador Lynn Alexander (South Africa) was on-hand, as was ISF Director of Competition Laurie Gouthro, a former softball player and coach. ISF clinician Jim Beitia conducted a session for the Forum attendees on the final day.
Softball was first featured in the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996 and last year’s competition in Beijing was very successful with a total attendance close to 180,000 and a continuation of the sport’s excellent record of no positive doping tests in women’s international softball since testing began in 1982.
A final decision on which sports will be added to the current roster of 26 at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games will be made at the 121st IOC Session in Copenhagen in October this year.
Further information is available in the OTHER DOCUMENTS section of www.BackSoftball.com.
For more information please contact ISF Director of Communications Bruce Wawrzyniak at brucew@internationalsoftball.com, +1 813 864 0100 or +1 813 453 8762