LESS THAN 100 DAYS TO GO
2009-02-05

The first listing on the international softball events calendar is less than three months away.

Fast pitch softball (women’s) is on the program of the 2009 Arafura Games, and Northern Territory Softball in Australia is encouraging all countries in and around the Arafura Sea to send teams and officials to participate. The Games are being held in Darwin, Australia, from May 9-17, with the softball competition also being held between these dates.

The Arafura Games is a leading international sporting competition for emerging champions of the Asia-Pacific and beyond. The event began in 1991 and is held every two years. This year’s will have events across 27 sporting disciplines.

Unlike the Olympic Games or a world championship, the Arafura Games is not an event directed at the world's most elite athletes. The multi-sport event is a development Games for the athletes of that region and around the world to use as a stepping stone. As such, competition is offered to regional/state and development teams to mix with national teams and experience the quality of an international event. Softball has not imposed age restrictions on competitors, but encourages teams to encompass the Games’ motto of “emerging champions.”

Competitors must be endorsed by the relevant peak sporting body in their country. Any competitor in the Arafura Games must be a national of the country of the peak body that is endorsing them.

The accreditation system is now open for all teams and officials who wish to participate. Please visit www.arafuragames.net or email Softball NT Executive Officer Jacquie Hatt at ntsa@bigpond.net.au for more information.

Australia and Northern Territory Softball looks forward to welcoming sporting neighbors from around the world to the forthcoming 10th Arafura Games.

(contributing: Northern Territory Softball)