The ISF will hold its World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand, January 29-February 8, 2004

To Visit the Official Website for these 2004 World Championships, click logo below:

To Visit the Official ISF Website, click the logo below:

The International Softball Federation successfully lobbied the International Olympic Committee to have softball designated a medal sport. Through his dedication and belief in our sport, I.S.F. President, Don Porter’s dream finally became reality in 1996 when Softball had its spectacular Olympic debut in Atlanta, GA, U.S.A. This event drew more than 120,000 fans, and was topped at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Softball is indeed an ideal Olympic sport encompassing the Olympic requisites of athletic agility, strength and speed. It is a sport that is played competitively in more than 120 countries with regional/continental, national and world championship events of competition. It is now played on every continent. Softball is also on the program of such Olympic style competitions as the Pan American Games, the Asian Games, the South Pacific Games, the Southeast Asian Games and the Central American Games.

Softball incorporates many virtues promoted by the International Olympic Committee. To name a few, softball is played by both males and females, equipment costs are minimal and the playing facilities can be easily adapted from existing fields.

The International Softball Federation has conducted almost 40 World Championships since 1965 for men, women, junior boys and junior girls.

Some relevant statistics are:
· 15 million athletes in 1970
· 28 million athletes in 1980 and
· 37.5 million athletes in 1993
· Over 40 million athletes participate in our sport today.