Softball Optimistic for 2012 Olympic Reconsideration in two weeks

[Al Doran]

From: "Rick Picard" <rpicard(at)softball.ca>
Subject: SOFTBALL OPTIMISTIC FOR 2012 OLYMPIC RECONSIDERATION IN TWO WEEKS
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 21:17:22 -0500



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 25, 2006





SOFTBALL OPTIMISTIC FOR 2012 OLYMPIC RECONSIDERATION IN TWO WEEKS



In just over two weeks, the XXth Olympic Winter Games will come to the 
forefront of the sporting world from Torino.  First however, it is an 
Olympic Summer sport that could make headlines in the same city in Italy 
when the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) 118th Session begins 
exactly two weeks from today.  Don Porter, President of the International 
Softball Federation (ISF), the sport's world governing body, has led 
efforts to get reconsideration of softball's Olympic status for the 2012 
Games programme put on the agenda for the Torino meetings since the IOC 
Session in Singapore last July.



Last summer, women's softball was taken off the programme of the 2012 
Summer Games in London following a vote that was very close and, as a 
result, led the ISF to immediately begin to seek reconsideration.



Today Mr. Porter is on his way to Australia, where the 1st Commonwealth 
Softball Championship is about to begin.  The hope is that softball will be 
added to the programme of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.  "Our sport is 
already on the programme of 16 multisport games, which shows its 
universality and thus counters a previously reported criticism of softball 
not being a global sport," Mr. Porter said.



He also pointed out that softball has many additional qualities that mirror 
what is expected of an Olympic sport, such as a clean doping record, the 
best athletes participating in the Games, low cost venues that will get 
continued use following the Olympics, and the promotion of women in sport, 
to name a few.



The ISF President will attend the IOC Session in Torino accompanied by ISF 
Executive Vice President/Olympic Softball Mrs. HE Huixian (China), ISF 
Deputy Secretary General Ms. LOW Beng Choo (Malaysia), and ISF VP/Europe 
Mrs. Jelena (Tomic) CUSAK (Croatia).  Mr. Porter said he will go there 
cautiously optimistic.  "We've talked to many people who support 
reconsideration of women's softball for the 2012 Olympics.  Now we need the 
re-vote to solidify our rightful reinstatement.  Millions and millions of 
softball athletes, coaches, umpires, administrators, parents, and fans 
around the world are all waiting for it."





The ISF is the world governing body of the sport as recognized by the 
International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the General Association of 
International Sports Federations (GAISF).  Softball (women's fast pitch) 
made its Olympic debut at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.  There are 127 
affiliated countries in the ISF and millions of participants in the sport 
worldwide.



MEDIA: For more information, please contact ISF Director of Communications 
Bruce Wawrzyniak at 
<mailto:brucew at internationalsoftball.com>brucew at internationalsoftball.com, 
(1.813) 864 0100, ext. 229, or (1.813) 453 8762 (cell).

__________________________________________________

Regards,


Rick Picard
Program Director, Marketing & Communications
Softball Canada
223 Colonnade Road
Suite 212
Ottawa, ON, K2E 7K3
Tel. (613) 523-3386 ext. 3105
Fax/Telec. (613) 523-5761
<mailto:rpicard at softball.ca>rpicard(at)softball<mailto:rpicard at softball.ca>.ca 
*** www.softball.ca

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