… WBSC secures Mizuno as first ‘Global Sponsor’

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Baseball League, Robin Singh, leaves today to attend the historic and first-ever World Baseball Softball Congress (WBSC) in Africa, which was announced last month.Officials of the world governing body for baseball and softball have announced a new key agreement with the Japan-based Mizuno Corporation, establishing Mizuno as WBSC’s first Global Sponsor and the Exclusive Official Game Ball Supplier of all 2014 Baseball and Softball World Championship platforms, from youth to professional level.
“The WBSC is proud to partner with a sports industry leader like Mizuno, which will help keep the WBSC at the forefront of youth sport and further strengthen our youth engagement platforms,” stated WBSC co-presidents Riccardo Fraccari and Don Porter.
WBSC leadership also hailed the agreement as highlighting the value baseball and softball could deliver to the Olympic Movement, if included on the Olympic Programme.
“The WBSC remains committed to Olympic Games inclusion, and this strategic-partnership — the sponsorship of our youth-, women’s- and men’s competition platforms — is critical to strongly demonstrating baseball and softball’s youth and commercial appeal, and gender-balance,” the co-presidents added.
“We are confident that under the Olympic umbrella, baseball and softball’s global assets could further enhance and sustain the uniqueness, year-round message and economic positioning of the Olympic Games, while making the Games increasingly relevant to women and vice-versa.”
Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) was established in April 2013 and granted recognition as the sole competent authority in baseball and softball by the International Olympic Committee at the 125th IOC Session in September 2013.

The WBSC which has National Federation members in 141 territories across Asia, Africa, Americas, Europe and Oceania, will be led by an Interim Executive Board until the Inaugural WBSC Congress in May 2014.