The International Softball Federation (ISF) is confident Whitehorse can pull off hosting a world championship.
By Jonathan Russell
The junior men’s world championships are returning to Whitehorse in 2014 based in part of the success in ’08.
The International Softball Federation (ISF) is confident Whitehorse can pull off hosting a world championship.
That confidence has led the ISF back to the Yukon capital for the 2014 Junior Men’s World Championship.
Whitehorse hosted the Junior Men’s World Championship in 2008 and is also set to host the 2012 Women’s World Fastpitch Championship, from July 13-22.
ISF president Don Porter told the Star that Whitehorse’s most recent winning bid, the announcement for which came at the ISF Congress in Oklahoma City at the end of October, was in part due to the success of the 2008 junior men’s championships.
Whitehorse’s bid went to the Competitions Commission for approval before being voted on by delegates.
“What was done up there by the people that supported the championship and the organizing of it – I thought was exceptional,” Porter said. “I know many of the other members of the federation that were in attendance at that championship were very much impressed also, so I think that certainly had a lot to do with it when another bid was presented.”
A sound organizing committee, a good facility and community support are the ingredients that go into hosting an international event, Porter explained.
“The businesses are so important too in supporting an event like that – so I think it’s a combination of those things that we try to look for in cities; and also the opportunity for a city to bring an event that’s going to bring a number of people there,” Porter said.
The world championships continue to return to Whitehorse – and Canadian venues – for these reasons, he added.
“I think a lot of it has to do with the good work that is done at all our world championships that are held in Canada. We’ve had quite a number of world championships throughout Canada, and to my recollection, I think almost every one of them was extremely successful,” Porter said, adding of Whitehorse: “I think that’s another reason that the delegates to the congress supported that bid.”
Saskatoon, Sask., was also awarded the 2015 ISF Senior Men’s World
Championship.Softball Yukon executive director George Arcand said hosting a number of world championships is fairly common.
Both Saskatchewan and Newfoundland, for instance, have been the sites of many international softball events, Arcand pointed out.
That Whitehorse will host its third world championship over seven years is “not totally unusual,” he added.
“It wasn’t a huge surprise, but it was welcome news,” Arcand said.
“The big thing for us is that our complex is considered right and they like it, so therefore as long as we want to do it I’m sure we have a shot at winning a bid.
“If Whitehorse wants to have it continue to happen, it will happen, because there’s not 50 sites in Canada that are wanting to host it; there’s only a few.”
Softball Yukon this past summer ensured upgrades were made to the Pepsi Centre, re-building dugouts and adding a second storey to the service building to accommodate a larger umpires room and dope testing area, for the 2012 Women’s World Fastpitch Championship, an event that leads up to the Pan-American Games.
“Without the Pepsi Centre, we would not be able to host any kind of championship of this calibre,” Arcand said.
In addition, Softball Yukon will ensure infields are maintained properly to reach the standard for worlds and the fencing will be renovated.
“As it is, we’ve spent the summer doing a considerable amount of renovations based on what we found in 2008, what we need for 2012. So we’ve upgraded the facility; you can call it part of the legacy that bringing a world championship does.
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