MOMENTUM FOR OLYMPIC REINSTATEMENT CONTINUES AS BACKSOFTBALL PREPARES FOR ANOCA PRESENTATION

Beatrice Allen - “Softball is changing lives in Africa”

Abuja, (Nigeria); 6^th July 2009: International Softball Federation President Don Porter has arrived in Abuja today to make a presentation to the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) General Assembly to further promote softball’s campaign for Olympic Programme reinstatement.

Mr. Porter, who will be joined by ISF Executive Council and International Olympic Committee member Beatrice Allen, Botswana Softball Association President Marumo Morule, and softball athlete/coach Lynn Alexander from South Africa, will also meet with high-level delegates during the visit to promote softball’s impact in Africa.

Ms. Allen, who is also President of the Gambian Softball Association but will not be in the presentation due to her IOC status, introduced softball to Gambia and presided over the African Softball Forum in April, when delegates from ten African nations attended workshops and seminars to discuss the development of softball in Africa and using sport as a peace-building tool.

The growth of softball in Africa, particularly among young people and women, has been the result of a huge amount of hard work by the ISF and individual softball federations.  At the African Forum the ISF president announced an initiative between the world governing body, the International University Sports Federation, and the African Students Sports Union of a USD$100,000 development fund for youth on that continent.

Ms. Allen said, “The ANOCA meeting this week gives the ISF a tremendous opportunity to show what a significant impact softball is having across this continent.  Softball is changing lives by providing a framework for building understanding among communities, and it’s cheap and easy to play, making it ideal for young people in less developed areas.”

Mr. Porter, who will be making the presentation to ANOCA with Ms. Alexander and ISF VP/Africa Mr. Morule, said, “I am delighted to be back in Africa again this week to discuss with members of ANOCA why softball should get their backing in the lead-up to the IOC vote later this year.  We have invested heavily in projects around Africa, providing real hope and opportunity to young people.  We are committed to making softball a significant sport in Africa as evidenced by our Jr. Women’s World Championship being set for 2011 in Cape Town (South Africa).”

The ISF is committed to growing the sport worldwide in a bid to target new players at every level, with particular focus on women and youth.

Softball’s exemplary anti-doping record in top level competition is further reason why softball is becoming so popular throughout the world.

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 at any of the four Summer Olympics that the sport has been a part of.

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 or David Alexander at David.Alexander@Calacus.com or +44 7802 412424.