The new softball venue in Beijing is under construction. (Photo courtesy of BOCOG)

BUSTLING WITH ACTIVITY MORE THAN 4 MONTHS OUT
2006-04-14

August 27 may sound like a long way off now, but not for the teams preparing to play in the ISF’s XI Women’s World Championship that starts that day. The event, which runs through and including September 5, is one that demands extreme preparation, what with berths in the 2008 Olympics at stake for the top four finishers. Taking place in the same venue in Beijing that will host the competition at the Games in just over two years, this summer’s event is also serving as softball’s Olympic Test Event.

The participants in this year’s marquee event will be Australia, Botswana, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, DPR Korea, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, USA, and Venezuela.

A report on internationalsoftball.com two weeks ago indicated that South Africa had named their world championship roster during the recent national championships in East London. Since then, Softball Canada has announced the 17-person roster that will represent that country at this summer’s big event. Their team will feature eight new faces from those that competed at the 2004 Olympics in Athens (although two of them were alternates).

Australia is closing in on its final roster. Following the last round (round three) of the 2005-2006 Grand Prix Series, which began today and ends on Monday, an Aussie Spirit team will take on Chinese Taipei (from April 18-20). Those two events will be the last chance for players to make an impression on the selectors for possible inclusion on the Australian team for the Women’s World Championship.

Meanwhile, in the host country, construction continues on the new softball stadium where the event will be played (see photo above). This week ISF President Don Porter and Director of Competition Laurie Gouthro returned from China where they met with the organizing committee and toured the venue site.

The organizers unveiled the event logo while the ISF representatives were there, and also recently launched the official event website, at www.2006softball.org.