26 June 2010

BIG SUPPORT FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
The International Softball Federation’s XII Women’s World Championship is well underway in Caracas, Venezuela, with 16 countries participating.

More than 30 million dollars was spent by the host country to prepare for hosting the event, including the preparation of two facilities, one of which was renovated from past use including the softball competition at the 1983 Pan American Games.

Support has been overwhelming thus far, from top government officials attending to capacity crowds attending games and a throng of media reporting on the ten-day event.

The list of aforementioned government officials starts at the absolute top, with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez himself not only having spoken at the Opening Ceremonies, but thrown out a ceremonial first pitch before the game that immediately followed (June 23rd).

President Chavez greets ISF President Don Porter just before Opening Ceremonies.

Additional VIP support includes the attorney general, president of the Supreme Court, the president of the national electoral counsel, the mayor, the president of the general assembly, Sports Minister Victoria Mata, and several other ministers (defense, education).

COMPETITIVE, EXCITING GAMES
On the field, the play has entertained the enthusiastic crowds. Defending ISF women’s world champion USA won by just 1-0 in their opening game (versus China), which was the same score that Venezuela had defeated the Dominican Republic by just one night earlier. European champion the Netherlands also won by just one run in their first game (5-4 over Great Britain), which came on the same day (June 24th) that Argentina edged South Africa 4-3.

Chinese Taipei’s Lin Pei Chun watches a pitch go by in a game against Canada

The rest of the teams (not named above) participating in the world championship are: Australia, Botswana, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Czech Republic, Japan, and New Zealand. The tournament runs through and including July 2.

This year marks the 45-year anniversary of the first-ever softball world championship, with five women’s national teams having competed in 1965 in Melbourne, Australia. Players and umpires at the ongoing event in Caracas are wearing commemorative patches to recognize the occasion.

WWC ACTIVITY ONLINE
The official 2010 women’s world championship website is www.mundialsoftbol2010.org.ve. Information is presented there in two languages (English and Spanish). Additionally, the ISF website has recaps at the end of each night on the day’s games. Plus those articles include links to video interviews on the ISF’s YouTube channel, photos on the ISF’s page on Facebook, and the ISF Twitter page, where final scores are being tweeted from.