USA Softball, Japan Join Forces To Strengthen Paris 2024 Olympic Bid

USA Softball will join France and Japan softball and baseball federations to grow and develop grassroots programming in France.  USA Softball announced on Thursday that all the federations will aim to strengthen the World Baseball Softball Confederation's bid in order to remain on the Olympic docket for 2024.

The effort hopes to improve the development, promotion and enhance the French National Women's Softball Team and Men's National Baseball Team.

“USA Softball has a long-standing commitment to growing the game of softball both here in the United States and globally,” said USA Softball Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Craig Cress via press release.  “By establishing partnerships with our fellow national federations, it is our hope that we can not only develop the game at the grassroots level in France, but continue to provide opportunities for their athletes to represent their country at the highest level.  We are honored to be able to aid in these efforts and by doing so hope that the Olympic dream will remain alive for future generations of softball and baseball athletes.”

“We’re delighted to have signed an agreement with the world’s two leading baseball and softball nations,” said FFBS President, Didier Seminet.  “Our membership is up 50% over the last 10 years and we believe that this partnership will boost these figures even more dramatically over the next three Olympic cycles, as we try to realize the dream of our French baseball and softball athletes to play for their home country in the Olympic Games of Paris 2024.”

USA Softball will send envoys of coaches to France to establish grassroots programming with an emphasis on skill development, coaching techniques, health and nutrition.

“This incredible act of international cooperation and sportsmanship can only be inspired by the greatest sports platform on the planet, the Olympic Games,” said WBSC President, Riccardo Fraccari. “The global baseball-softball community embraces the values of the Olympics and wishes to promote the spread of them at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, helping to build immense momentum and continuity for the Olympic Movement from Tokyo 2020 to LA 2028 Games, if our sport remains on the Olympic Program.”

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