First-ever ‘Europe’ Baseball Team To Be Established, Will Challenge No. 1 Japan In Tokyo In March

The first-ever baseball team representing “Europe” will be established and will make its historic debut in a two-game series against the top-ranked Japanese National Professional Baseball Team in Tokyo next month, Riccardo Fraccari, President of the World Baseball Softball Confederation, announced.

The WBSC “Global Baseball Match-Up 2015” between Europe and world No. 1 Samurai Japan will be played from 10-11 March at the iconic 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome, marking the first time an entire continent is represented in an official international baseball competition.

Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) — the second highest-attended major sports league in the world in 2014 (approx. 23 million) and WBSC Associate Member — will host the Europe vs. Japan two-game series.

“This is an unprecedented and historic event that signifies baseball’s expansion into a totally new competition format,” said WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari, “and, I am confident that this new type of international baseball competition being rolled out by WBSC will be exciting and highly appealing to the players, fans and key stakeholders.

World Baseball Softball Confederation

“I would like to thank NPB Commissioner Katsuhiko Kumazaki for his important role in not only realising but sharing and strengthening this vision.”

The world governing body leader said the establishment of the continental selection will unite Europe’s top baseball players from among the 43 European nations in which WBSC has a Member Federation.

“It will be a great source of pride and validation for those nations whose players are selected to represent Europe, and this new concept that we are realising will provide an additional platform with which to raise the profile and brand of baseball in Europe and within each respective nation,” said Fraccari.

The official look and apparel design for Team Europe are under development and will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

In preparation for the series, the leader of top-ranked Samurai Japan, Hiroki Kokubo, is in the process of touring the training camps of various NPB clubs in Japan to evaluate talent, in order to build up a collection of stars for his roster.

Kokubo, who guided Japan to victory over Team MLB in a best-of-five series last November, stated weeks ago that he will assemble a “Dream Team” with Japan’s biggest names in baseball for the inaugural WBSC Premier 12™ Professional World Championship that will take place in November in Japan and Taiwan; the Samurai leader will use the match-up against Europe to further solidify and test his National Team leading to the Premier 12.

Kokubo said: “Considering the WBSC Premier 12 coming up, I think this match-up with Europe, feeling each other out, will be important.”

Europe will make its world debut under current Netherlands National Team manager, Steve Janssen, who led the Netherlands to the 2014 CEB European Championship.

“It is a tremendous honour and great responsibility to lead Europe,” said Janssen, “and playing against one of the best teams in the world is going to be a very exciting and challenging first test.”

Italy’s National Team manager, Marco Mazzieri, who advanced Italy to the quarterfinals of the 2013 World Baseball Classic, will also be an integral part of Europe’s coaching staff and will work closely with Janssen in selecting the players who will represent the first-ever Europe team at the Tokyo Dome in March.

Both Janssen and Mazzieri will also be leading their respective National Teams at the 2015 WBSC Premier 12, as No. 5 Netherlands and No. 11 Italy are among the top twelve (the “Premier 12”) nations in the world that will be featured and make up the new flagship event.

Ticketing for the Europe vs. Samurai Japan Series opened yesterday (6 February), while team rosters will be revealed in an upcoming announcement.

Taipei And Taichung Join Tokyo As Hosts Of New Premier 12™ World Baseball Championship

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari announced that Taipei City and Taichung are the latest cities to join — alongside Tokyo, Japan — as hosts for the 2015 WBSC Premier 12™ World Baseball Championship that will debut later this year from 8-21 November.

The new flagship quadrennial event will feature the Men’s Professional National Teams from the Top 12 nations (the “Premier 12”) in the world and will award US$ millions in prize money, in addition to distributing the highest amount of world ranking points of any international baseball event, making it the world’s highest platform for WBSC’s members’ National Baseball Teams.

World Baseball Softball Confederation

The additions of Taipei City and Taichung — world-class baseball cities that have successfully staged major international baseball competitions, such as the WBSC-sanctioned World Baseball Classic — to the line-up of host cities for the inaugural Premier 12 follows a landmark agreement between WBSC and Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) that will see the semi-finals and finals of the Premier 12 be staged at the iconic 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome.

The WBSC-NPB partnership will also see the world No. 1 Japanese National Team — a “Samurai Japan” roster that will be filled with Japan’s biggest names in the sport — play their first Premier 12 contest in Japan, before travelling to Chinese Taipei for the Official 2015 WBSC Premier 12 Opening Ceremonies and full round-robin action.

Together, Taipei and Taichung will be the site of 29 of the 30 opening round-robin games and the first knockout stage: the quarterfinals.

With Taipei, Taichung and Tokyo engaging in collaborations, and the event featuring baseball’s twelve best nations in the world, WBSC leadership believes that the newest global baseball showcase will be positioned for success and capable of attaining record broadcast reach, further exposing the sport to new audiences and future generations of athletes.

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari indicated that the wave of major milestones that the new Premier 12 has surpassed in a relatively short period highlights the growing appeal and marketability of global competitions, like the new Premier 12, that feature baseball’s best National Teams and give the best players in the world an opportunity to represent their countries.

The world governing body leader also said the progress of the Premier 12 is a timely boost following the Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms passed last month, particularly with Tokyo’s enthusiasm to co-host the 2015 Premier 12 in one of Japan’s most iconic venues.

The twelve qualified nations for the inaugural Premier 12 in 2015 are (by World Rank): No. 1 Japan, No. 2 USA, No. 3 Cuba, No. 4 Chinese Taipei, No. 5 Netherlands, No. 6 Dominican Republic, No. 7 Canada, No. 8 South Korea, No. 9 Puerto Rico, No. 10 Venezuela, No. 11 Italy and No. 12. Mexico.

Major Announcements In Tokyo See Top Sports League NPB As Co-Host Of New WBSC Premier 12™ Flagship Event

— Iconic Tokyo Dome to stage 2015 Premier 12 Semi-finals and Finals– Official Logo, Tournament Dates for Premier 12 Flagship Event Unveiled in Tokyo

— Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games High on WBSC Agenda

The President of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), Riccardo Fraccari, and the Commissioner of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), Katsuhiko Kumazaki, have agreed on a partnership that will bring the inaugural WBSC Premier 12™ to Japan in November, it was announced today at a press conference in Japan’s capital city.

Under the partnership, NPB — the 2nd highest-attended major sports league in the world in 2014, with nearly 23 million fans filling venues for NPB’s 80th anniversary season — will host a special grand opening contest, the semi-finals, and medal round of the WBSC’s new flagship professional baseball world championship featuring the Men’s National Teams from the Top 12-ranked nations (the “Premier 12”) in the world and will award US$ millions in prize money, in addition to distributing the highest amount of world ranking points of any international baseball event.

Following in a series of blockbuster announcements, the iconic Tokyo Dome was named as the crown jewel venue that will host the 2015 WBSC Premier 12 semi-finals, bronze medal contest and the decisive gold medal finale. It was also revealed that a “secret” location will be announced in the coming weeks for the grand opening of the 2015 Premier 12 in Japan, along with special opening ceremonies.

“The iconic Tokyo Dome is a symbol of Japan and of baseball,” said President Fraccari, “and it is one the world’s leading stadiums for staging some the biggest events in sport and entertainment, which not only reinforces but further defines the Premier 12 brand ahead of its launch.”

The world governing body leader said he was honoured to strengthen ties with one of the sporting world’s most successful leagues and have the 2015 Premier 12 co-hosted across two of baseball’s most important territories.

“I thank NPB Commissioner Kumazaki for this landmark partnership, which will help drive the launch, reach and overall viewership of the inaugural WBSC Premier 12 this November into the hundreds of millions,” said President Fraccari, “and, I am particularly proud of how we were able to work together with all the various stakeholders to get this done and have Premier 12 co-hosted by two nations where our sport is the established leader among athletes, fans, sponsors, and can generate record viewer ratings and engaging in-stadium experiences.”

The opening Round-Robin (except for the special grand opening contest in Japan) and quarterfinals of the Premier 12 will be staged in Chinese Taipei.

Said NPB Commissioner Kumazaki: “This partnership sends a strong signal that we are united behind WBSC President Fraccari and share his global vision for international competitions and the Premier 12. This is a great privilege and responsibility for NPB, and we have every confidence in the success of the WBSC Premier 12. NPB is committed to — in strong partnership with WBSC — further raising the profile of WBSC-sanctioned international events, particularly those that feature National Teams and that showcase our sport and our athletes playing for their countries on the global stage like the Premier 12.”

PREMIER 12 LOGO UNVEILED

Amid a wave of major announcements already changing the course and history of the WBSC Premier 12, the first-ever presentation of the Official WBSC Premier 12 logo was unveiled by short video presentation.

The same United Kingdom-based group (The Works Ltd) responsible for the official looks of such elite properties as the 2014 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League Finals has been appointed to deliver a truly global look and feel, and electrifying atmosphere for the 2015 WBSC Premier 12, including all Fanzones. The unique features of the modern logo include 12 stars that symbolise the world’s 12 best baseball nations that make up the identity and will compete in the Premier 12.

2015 PREMIER 12 DATES ANNOUNCED

WBSC officials stressed the aim of this flagship world baseball championship is to be an exciting sprint that covers only nine total days of competition, as the dates of the inaugural WBSC Premier 12 were revealed: 8-21 November.

While the schedule and groups of the 2015 WBSC Premier 12 will be released at a later date, the grand opening, under the new co-hosting agreement, will showcase the top stars on the World No. 1 Japanese National Baseball Team, “Samurai Japan”, and will likely draw a sold-out stadium and kick-off Premier 12 with a frenzy among fans and media alike.

PREMIER 12 LAUNCH HERALDS “NEW ERA”

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari credit ibaf.org

President Fraccari said the launch of Premier 12 reflected an exciting new period for world baseball and softball, highlighted by the rapid development and expansion of baseball and softball, and leading to the emergence of a new world order in baseball and softball.

“This is giving rise to a golden era of global growth amongst fans, sponsors, broadcasters and especially among young people and women interested in playing and following baseball and softball worldwide, particularly in new markets in Europe, the Middle East, as well as in South America and Africa, and in Asia,” President Fraccari said.

President Fraccari said that inclusion of baseball and softball at the Olympic Games, which he described as “the greatest sporting stage and spectacle in the world”, was a central goal in this new era.

Finishing only behind wrestling at a 2013 International Olympic Committee vote for inclusion on the Olympic programme and following the endorsement of IOC President Thomas Bach’s Agenda 2020 reforms late last year, the WBSC will look to apply for further consideration for possible inclusion at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, he said.

“I believe that Japan’s passion for baseball and softball, if included at the Tokyo 2020 Games, will unite and engage the entire Olympic host nation of Japan behind the Games and the Olympic ideals of sport in society — as well as honour Japan’s sporting heritage,” he said.

“The inclusion of baseball and softball at Tokyo 2020 will also make the Olympic Games, the Olympic magic and values more relevant and accessible to millions of new and loyal baseball and softball fans and players in the growing list of nations where baseball and softball are now part of the sporting landscape in the 21st century and continuing to grow in popularity.”

World Baseball Softball Confederation

PREMIER 12 NATIONS AND GLOBAL SPREAD

The twelve qualified nations for the inaugural Premier 12 in 2015 were announced in November 2014 and form an elite and global group (by World Rank): No. 1 Japan, No. 2 USA, No. 3 Cuba, No. 4 Chinese Taipei, No. 5 Netherlands, No. 6 Dominican Republic, No. 7 Canada, No. 8 South Korea, No. 9 Puerto Rico, No. 10 Venezuela, No. 11 Italy and No. 12. Mexico.

The 2015 Premier 12 will have a global footprint that spreads across the entire western hemisphere — North, Central- and South America, and the Caribbean — Asia, and Northern and Southern Europe. Oceania’s No. 14 Australia, which had been ranked as high as No. 10 in 2012, finished just 8.96 rankings points behind No. 12 Mexico.

WBSC Welcomes Olympic Agenda 2020 Reforms As New Era For Sports And Athletes

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) joins the worldwide chorus of support following the successful reception and endorsement of key Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms at the extraordinary IOC session in Monaco today, particularly regarding the adoption of a more flexible Olympic sports programme.

On behalf of the worldwide baseball and softball family, WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari congratulated and thanked IOC President Thomas Bach, the IOC Members and working groups for leading and driving the reforms, which sport experts say will open a new chapter in world sport.

World Baseball Softball Confederation

“The WBSC fully shares the IOC’s vision of Olympic reform under President Bach, and stands ready to support and assist the Olympic Movement in implementing the reforms, wherever baseball and softball can help,” President Fraccari said.

“Above all the Olympic Games is the world’s most inspirational sporting event, and the Agenda 2020 reforms will inspire more young people and women, who are the future of all sports, to take up more sport and to participate in sport and in the values of sport, and make sport more relevant to the next generation, and as a catalyst for change in our communities and societies,” President Fraccari said.

President Fraccari indicated that the WBSC would wait for guidance and direction from the IOC and the Tokyo 2020 organisers to determine how the new reforms could involve baseball and softball.

As potential Olympic sports, baseball and softball — sports that embody and promote gender-equality — would also help to take the Olympic values and focus on sport to 65 million players and 250 million fans at all levels worldwide, and make the Olympic Games more relevant in more regions of the world where baseball and softball are growing in popularity, especially among young people and women, and have become national sports.

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari credit ibaf.org

President Fraccari said that as the world governing body overseeing baseball and softball, the WBSC is humbled by the opportunity provided by the reforms to be included in the Olympic Games which enable future Olympic host cities and organising committees, including Tokyo 2020, to include additional sporting events in the Olympic sports programme, which could potentially include baseball and softball, two of the most popular sports in the world that have experienced a wave of global development in recent years.

The new more flexible approach to Olympic sport approved by the IOC session has provided a massive boost of optimism and hope that the changes could result in baseball and softball joining the Olympic Games sports programme.

“It’s like when the manager calls you off the bench to pick up the bat and warm up, and the bases are loaded,” President Fraccari said. “All you want to do is swing for the fences!

“Today, there is excitement circulating around the baseball and softball world and there is great hope that our athletes will now have a real opportunity — the pinnacle and highest honour in our sport — to play for their country, aiming to win an Olympic gold medal.

“The reforms herald a new era for sports and athletes worldwide, and provide important hope and inspiration for sports and athletes wanting to participate in the world’s most important global sporting event, the Olympic Games,” said President Fraccari.

The world governing body leader was confident that if included, baseball and softball could significantly enhance the Olympic experience, building on the vast fan, player and community support levels for the bat-and-ball sports worldwide.

“While baseball and softball have very deep historic and contemporary connections in sporting communities and at all levels of society in Japan, the sports are experiencing worldwide popularity and growth, with new as well as existing and upgraded venues able to host the sports in both traditional and new markets in Africa, the Middle East as well as in Europe,” he said.

President Fraccari said the huge legions of young people and women who play and support baseball and softball at all levels across the world, along with strong sponsor, broadcaster and viewing audiences and support would increase levels of excitement and engagement at the Olympic Games.

President Fraccari said the WBSC had devised a new shorter and more compact format for Olympic baseball and softball which included the use of a shared and existing competition venue in order to ensure the baseball and softball events were sustainable and affordable and leave meaningful sporting and community legacies for young people and women after the Games.

New Venues In Africa, Bahamas, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, United Kingdom Mark Baseball And Softball’s Global Rise

New venues to increase opportunities in sport for women and young people.

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari: “More and more clubs, communities, cities and nations are investing in the development of baseball and softball because it is being recognised that baseball and softball are proven and popular sporting and fan activities that engage young people across both genders as well as sponsors and broadcasters and can help to stimulate economies.”

A fresh wave of planned or recently completed baseball and softball construction projects is set to boost the growing popularity and globalisation of the bat-and-ball sports, as well as local economies, World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) officials reported. The latest developments follow historic growth for baseball and softball across Africa, with first-ever national stadiums erected in Ghana and Uganda in early 2014.

Now, as baseball and softball’s global footprint deepens, new facilities are being rolled out in the Bahamas, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain and the United Kingdom, in addition to new-builds in mature markets like Mexico — and South Korea and Taiwan, where the first-ever domed baseball stadiums are currently taking shape.

Bahamas

In 2015, a new national baseball stadium in the Bahamas — Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium — will be completed and “heralds rapid expansion of the game of baseball in the Bahamas,” reads a statement posted in November on the official website of the Government of the Bahamas.

Prime Minister of the Bahamas Perry Christie told reporters: “This is a result of the extraordinary progress of baseball in the [Bahamas], without government support, sponsored by people who had an interest, who stimulated young people…to get involved in baseball. We are now talking a benefit to the economy of the Bahamas.”

Government officials in the Bahamas indicate the state-of-the-art facility “will support the nation’s current energies to fully develop its sports tourism.”

Netherlands

Europe’s first state-of-the-art baseball and softball complex just outside Amsterdam in Hoofddorp, Netherlands was inaugurated for the 2014 season and has already hosted its first international competition. As well as attracting major baseball and softball events to the region and providing a new and exciting athlete-/fan-experience, the venue’s strategic location makes it very attractive as a regional training centre to further strengthen the development of baseball and softball in the Netherlands and in Europe.

In 2013, the Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Association unveiled Europe’s first baseball and softball urban playground. The innovative “urban” concept was rolled out in Rotterdam and aims to take organised baseball and softball to the street, increasing the sports’ pathway and connection with young people in non-traditional settings.

New Zealand

Last month, the Auckland Council unveiled a new crown jewel baseball facility, cited by Auckland city officials as “the first of its kind in New Zealand.” Baseball New Zealand and McLeod Park Baseball Diamond have since been awarded the hosting rights of the U18 Baseball Oceania Championship, which serves as the qualifier for the 2015 U18 WBSC Baseball World Cup. Following McLeod Park’s opening ceremonies, officials in New Zealand have already been assessing the feasibility of building baseball’s first-ever national stadium in New Zealand.

Spain

The Instituto Barcelona Deportes (Barcelona Sports Institute) announced last week that it is set to begin construction on a new sports/community project, including the roll out of a new softball field next to baseball’s Estadio Carlos Perez de Rozas on Pierre de Coubertin Street in Barcelona.

“Sport is fundamental in Barcelona, so we are committed to providing the city with sports facilities necessary to ensure constant sport and of quality,” Deputy Mayor for Quality of Life, Equality and Sports, Ms. Maite Fandos, said in a statement.

South Africa

In a joint venture, the City of Cape Town and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport announced last month the unveiling of the rebuilt Bishop Lavis Softball field, which included laser-levelling of the pitch, installation of irrigation, construction of a backstop and fence, as well as installation of floodlights to hold training and competitions in the evenings.

“We are committed to providing facilities which will encourage communities to participate in sport and will nurture young talent. Sport encourages young people to live healthy and keeps them involved in wholesome activities and off the street,” the Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services, Alderman Belinda Walker, said in a statement.

United Kingdom

Following the first-ever dedicated baseball/softball stadium in the U.K. with Farnham Park Baseball and Softball Complex built last year in Slough, BaseballSoftballUK (BSUK) recently announced plans to build a new baseball and softball facility in Manchester to promote the sports and bolster participation numbers in the North of England. As growth has taken off in the U.K., including the newest facility inaugurated in Essex, John Boyd, BSUK Joint CEO, announced in November a project to expand the Farnham complex to include another international-standard baseball field.

U-15 Baseball World Cup

WBSC on Baseball/Softball’s Continued Trend of Global Growth

WBSC president Riccardo Fraccari hailed the wave of initiatives as a major boost for the positioning of baseball and softball as one of the world’s leading global sports, particularly as WBSC and its partners continue working toward a return baseball and softball in the Olympic Games.

“Our sport has entered into a new era of globalisation,” said the world governing body president. “More and more clubs, communities, cities and nations are investing in the development of baseball and softball because it is being recognised that baseball and softball are proven and popular sporting and fan activities that engage young people across both genders as well as sponsors and broadcasters, and can help to stimulate economies.

“WBSC, our National Federations, our professional league partners and the youth leagues are heavily invested in promoting our sport around the world to attract and reach — and remain relevant to — the next generation of athletes and sport fans, alike. This recognition and support from governmental institutions to help drive growth marks a significant break through for our sport in terms of universality and evolving into a truly global sport.”

Based on data compiled, the WBSC estimates that over 65 million athletes practice the sport of baseball and softball in over 140 countries, with youth and females making up the majority of the participation-demographic.

MP & Silva Acquires Worldwide Distribution & Sponsorship Rights For 2015 & 2019 ‘Premier 12’ World Baseball Championships

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and MP & Silva announced today an agreement that sees the leading international media rights company acquire the exclusive global media and sponsorship rights for the first two editions of “The Premier 12” — the new flagship pro baseball world championship that will feature the National Teams from the world’s twelve most powerful baseball nations and become baseball’s highest-ranked international competition.

Under the new partnership, MP & Silva secures the exclusive worldwide rights to distribute the 2015 and 2019 editions of The Premier 12 across all media platforms, with the first-ever Premier 12 programmed for November 2015 and set to award US$ multi-millions in prize money.

The agreement expands beyond content acquisition and also sees MP & Silva secure the exclusive global sponsorship rights for the first two Premier 12 international baseball showcases.

World Baseball Softball Confederation

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari hailed the landmark deal with MP & Silva as a strong indicator of the growing prominence of baseball’s National Team events on the world’s sporting landscape.

“This is a great day for The Premier 12 and the WBSC to partner with MP & Silva on delivering this new flagship international tournament to the millions of fans worldwide who want to follow and support their favourite National Teams on a global stage,” said Fraccari. “Partnering with MP & Silva represents a major coup for The Premier 12 and immediately raises the profile and marketability of The Premier 12 brand ahead of its rolling out next year.”

Said Marco Auletta, MP & Silva’s CEO: “We are extremely delighted to add The Premier 12 to MP & Silva’s portfolio and enter into this new partnership with WBSC. Our distribution of the World Baseball Classic 2013 enjoyed unprecedented success for global distribution and viewership, and we aim to surpass those targets with this exciting new property. WBSC sanctioned international baseball competitions, such as the inaugural Premier 12, are sports properties that continue to gain in prestige and attractiveness to broadcasters, commercial partners and spectators. We foresee an accelerating trend of positive audience growth and commercialisation of international baseball content in traditional markets across the Americas and Asia, as well as new and emerging markets, such as Europe and the Middle East.”

Baseball’s Top 12 nations that will compete in the inaugural Premier 12 will be led by No. 1 Japan, No. 2 USA, No. 3 Cuba, No. 4 Chinese Taipei, No. 5 Netherlands, No. 6 Dominican Republic, No. 7 Canada, No. 8 South Korea, No. 9 Puerto Rico, No. 10 Venezuela, No. 11 Italy and No. 12. Mexico.

World’s Top 12 Nations Revealed For First-Ever ‘Premier 12’ World Baseball Championship; New No. 1 Japan Heads Elite Line-Up

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) unveiled the line-up of the world’s best-ranked nations that have qualified for the first-ever “Premier 12” — the new flagship pro baseball world championship that will feature the National Teams from baseball’s 12 highest-ranked nations and become baseball’s highest-ranked international competition, awarding US$ multi-millions in prize money.

The Top 12 nations that have secured a place in the inaugural Premier 12 in 2015 is headlined by:

World Baseball Softball Confederation

No. 1 Japan,

No. 2 USA

No. 3 Cuba

No. 4 Chinese Taipei

No. 5 Netherlands

No. 6 Dominican Republic

No. 7 Canada

No. 8 South Korea

No. 9 Puerto Rico

No. 10 Venezuela

No. 11 Italy

No. 12. Mexico.

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari celebrated baseball’s first-ever collection of Premier 12 nations.

“WBSC congratulates the 2015 Class of Premier 12 nations and the athletes who helped lift their countries to be among the Top 12,” Fraccari said. “These nations represent baseball’s best that will unite and deliver an exciting — and unmatched competitive parity — at the inaugural Premier 12. Any one of these elite nations can come out victorious in 2015 and leave The Premier 12 as the reigning World Champion.”

The unveiling of baseball’s most powerful bloc of nations follows the end-of-the-year calculation of the Official 2014 WBSC World Baseball Rankings, as the final standings of the rankings in the year preceding The Premier 12 serve as the exclusive qualifying method into the international baseball showcase.

Phenom Shohei Ohtani (100+ mph fastball with NPB’s Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters) will likely be one of the Samurai selected to help Japan battle for the 2015 Premier 12 World Title.

The release of the 2014 WBSC World Baseball Rankings also marks the historic rise of the Japanese National Baseball Team, Samurai Japan, which for the first time ever is the world No. 1, surpassing 2013 leader USA.

The inaugural Premier 12 participants will represent a global spread that includes the entire western hemisphere — North-, Central- and South America, and the Caribbean — Asia, and Northern and Southern Europe. Oceania’s No. 14 Australia, which had been ranked as high as No. 10 in 2012, was just 8.96 rankings points behind No. 12 Mexico.

All WBSC’s world championship platforms — from the U-12, U-15, U-18 and U-21 Baseball World Cups to the 2013 World Baseball Classic and sanctioned/recognised international competitions have shaped the rankings and qualification into the 2015 Premier 12.

The Premier 12 logo, and 2015 tournament dates, are expected to be unveiled at an upcoming press conference.

Following the 2015 Premier 12, the world championship platform that unites the world’s 12 best nations will be rolled out every four years.

LG Named Title Sponsor Of New Women’s International Baseball Event

World Baseball Softball Confederation

In major boost for women’s sport, global giant LG named title sponsor of new Women’s International Baseball Event

-‘LG Cup 2014’, finale broadcast nationally in South Korea via MBC Sports+

– LG partnership and MBC Sport+ broadcast highlight growing appeal of women’s sport — and WBSC’s disciplines — among potential new sponsors and broadcasters, says WBSC’s President Riccardo Fraccari.

The world’s governing body of baseball and softball, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), announced today that South Korea electronics giant LG Electronics (066570: Korea Exchange) has been named the official title sponsor of a new annual international baseball event dedicated entirely to the promotion of women athletes: the LG Cup International Women’s Baseball Tournament.

In a partnership between LG, WBSC’s baseball division — the International Baseball Federation — and the Women’s Baseball Association of Korea (WBAK), the inaugural LG Cup 2014 was successfully launched last week and hosted at LG Champions Park, a state-of-the-art sports complex in Incheon, South Korea that features two playing venues and an indoor baseball training facility.

The opening contest and championship finale of the LG Cup 2014 were both broadcast nationally in South Korea by cable network MBC Sports+.

Commenting on the title sponsorship and launch of the LG Cup 2014, Bon-joon Koo, vice chairman and CEO of LG Electronics, said:

“LG is proud to take a leadership role in celebrating women’s achievements, whether that’s in the sports arena, family, or business. We think it’s important that women continue to have opportunities to participate and succeed in fields that are traditionally off-limits to them.”

Riccardo Fraccari, president of the WBSC said:

“The WBSC is extremely honoured that a global, multinational corporation like LG is committed to offering new and expanded opportunities for women to succeed on the global stage and to inspire and bring more girls and young people to choose sport through WBSC’s disciplines.

“The support and sponsorship of an industry leader like LG sends a powerful message about the growing appeal of WBSC’s sport disciplines — and women’s sport in particular — as vehicles to tear down social barriers and stereotypes, while aligning with various business strategies and socially responsible investments.”

LG’s sponsorship and hosting of the LG Cup also highlights the growing appeal of bat-and-ball sports amongst women, President Fraccari said, with softball being one of the world’s most popular sports for women and more women taking up baseball.

“We are working hard to expand opportunities for more women to participate in sport through softball and baseball, and having the support of important sponsors like LG and our many other great sponsors across both disciplines is fundamental to our efforts to maximize access for women to play our sports — and indeed other sports,” President Fraccari said.

WBSC’s leadership and sport analysts consider new international baseball and softball events in new regional markets for new audiences, along with new and repeat sponsorship and broadcast agreements, digital marketing programmes, and strong youth appeal and fan experience to be key drivers behind baseball/softball’s growing global footprint, and for enhancing the Olympic experience and movement, if the disciplines return to the Olympic programme, pending discussions on the Olympic sports selection process at the IOC Session in Monaco in December.

LG has a long history of supporting women’s health and wellness around the world and has implemented such sports activities as a key component of its Corporate Social Responsibility programme.

LG also helped to cover the expenses of a women’s baseball club from India, enabling the 22-members to make the journey to South Korea to compete in the inaugural LG Cup.

In total, the LG Cup 2014 united eight elite clubs from seven nations, including Australia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States.

Through the newest showcase of women’s baseball, LG, the WBSC and WBAK hope to create new pathways for women to participate in and benefit from more sports activities — and to encourage more women from all backgrounds to choose sport and WBSC’s disciplines, helping to shape society a sporting landscape that is more relevant and attractive to women. The LG Cup platform also aims to further raise the profile and highlight the achievements and talents of female athletes, while using sport to promote international friendship, respect and excellence.

The recently elected WBSC leadership, under President Fraccari, has made it one of its chief priorities to promote gender-equality and to seek to provide more opportunities for girls and women to be empowered through sports that women like to play and excel at, like baseball/softball — and to harness the skills and leadership of women across all levels of WBSC’s decision-making structure and in society at large.

LG’s partnership on the world’s newest women’s international baseball event follows WBSC’s recent announcement that South Korea has been awarded the hosting rights of the 2016 Women’s Baseball World Cup.

Women’s sport and women’s baseball will continue to be in the spotlight for WBSC next week, when the eight-nation 2014 ENEOS Presents VI Women’s Baseball World Cup begins on 1-September in Miyazaki, Japan.

Japan’s Gold At Women’s Softball World Championship Drives Interest In Return Of Softball, Baseball At Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

– Softball world title staged in Europe for first time showcases growth of women’s sport in new markets

Japan defeated the United States, 4-1, to win the first ever Women’s Softball World Championship held in Europe, highlighting softball’s continued expansion beyond traditional geographic boundaries as one of the world’s most commercially successful, and popular spectator and participation sports for women, young girls and families.

Australia earned the bronze to spread the medal distribution of the women’s championship among the Americas, Asia and Oceania.

“We are developing the sports of softball and baseball in many areas such as the Muslim world, in Africa, and in Europe where interest, awareness, and club numbers and players are continuing to grow on this historic, sports loving continent, the cradle of modern sport,”said World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) President, Riccardo Fraccari.

Japan, the 2008 Olympic softball champions, finished softball’s pinnacle global event with a perfect tournament record of 10-0, fueling further national speculation, interest and excitement in Japan about the possible inclusion of softball and baseball, the two most popular sports in the 2020 Olympic host nation, at the Tokyo Games.

With the Olympic sports selection process up for discussion at the IOC Session in Monaco in December, leadership of the WBSC, the recently merged international baseball and softball confederation, remains committed to working with the IOC and Tokyo 2020 organisers to earn the honour of having the sports included at the Olympic Games.

“Japan, like many other countries around the world, is a baseball and softball nation, and we are doing all we can to maximize the added-value that our bat-and-ball sports would deliver to the Olympic Games,” President Fraccari said.

“We believe that the deep national history, pride and passion for baseball and softball in Japan, at all levels of Japanese society, would enable these sports to bring great value and enhance the Olympic experience at the Tokyo Games and for the 2020 Olympic host nation of Japan.”

“The ten-day spectacle of women’s sport highlighted softball’s growing global popularity as one of the world’s premier sports for women,” said Dale McMann, WBSC Executive Vice President.

Japan defeated the United States, 4-1, to win the first ever Women’s Softball World Championship

The XIV Women’s Softball Championship featured sixteen national teams — the maximum allowed — from five world regions, and included Australia, Botswana, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Russia and United States.

“This was a premium event, with teams from three different continents in the top three,” said Low Beng Choo, WBSC Secretary General.

“The medal distribution from the Americas to Asia and Oceania highlights the global spread and excellence of the sport and the athletes, and increases opportunities and awareness of women’s sport,” Low said.

The attention will now shift to Miyazaki, Japan for the ENEOS Presents Women’s Baseball World Cup 2014, which begins September 1.

Japan defeated the United States, 4-1, to win the first ever Women’s Softball World Championship..

* 14th Women’s Softball World Championship

Final Standings

1. Japan
2. United States
3. Australia
4. Canada
5. Chinese Taipei
6. Netherlands
7. China
8. New Zealand
9. Cuba
Italy
11. Czech Republic
12. Dominican Republic
13. Russia
14. Botswana
15. Puerto Rico
16. Great Britain

Hosting Rights of 2016 Baseball World Cups Awarded To Japan, Mexico, South Korea

U-15 Baseball World Cup

The world governing body for baseball and softball, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), has announced today that the hosting rights of the three Baseball World Cups (U-15, U-21 and Women’s) to be staged in 2016 have been awarded and will go to Japan, Mexico and South Korea.

The III U-15 Baseball World Cup will be celebrated in Japan, where twelve countries will unite for the youth international baseball showpiece.

With the acquisition of the rights to host the U-15 Baseball World Cup in 2016, Japan is set to host baseball world championships in three successive years, following the ENEOS Presents VI Women’s Baseball World Cup this September in Miyazaki and the 2015 U-18 Baseball World Cup, which will take place at historic Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo.

The II U-21 Baseball World Cup will be celebrated in Sinaloa, Mexico — where the highly-attended II U-15 Baseball World Cup just recently concluded, with world No. 3 Cuba crowned U-15 world champions by defeating top-ranked USA in the gold medal finale in Mazatlán. The first-ever U-21 Baseball World Cup is being held in Taichung, Taiwan this year from 7-16 November.

The 2016 Women’s Baseball World Cup will head to South Korea, where the women’s competition will be boosted from eight participating countries this year in Miyazaki to twelve in 2016. The expansion of the women’s baseball platform aligns with the objectives of WBSC’s leadership to promote gender-equality and to provide more opportunities for girls and women to be empowered through sports that women like to play, like baseball-softball.

World Baseball Softball Confederation

Commenting on the naming of the three hosts of the baseball world championships in 2016, the WBSC President, Riccardo Fraccari, said:

“We are extremely delighted with these excellent bids that derive from key markets.

Continuing to attract high-quality hosts to successfully deliver and showcase our events is a key indicator of baseball and softball’s global appeal and popularity, and of the lasting legacy and value returned to the hosts.”

Since 2009, the baseball and softball world championships, or stages thereof, have been held in 20 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and North-, South- and Central America, and include Argentina, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Puerto Rico, San Marino, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, United States and Venezuela.

Japanese oil giant, ENEOS, named title sponsor of 2014 Women’s Baseball World Cup

In major boost to Women’s Sport, Japanese oil giant, ENEOS, named title sponsor of 2014 Women’s Baseball World Cup

— Sponsorship deal is viewed as a ‘home run’ for women’s sport.

The world’s governing body of baseball and softball, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), announced today that Japan’s largest oil company, Tokyo-based JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp. (5020: Tokyo Stock Exchange), will have its leading brand, ENEOS, named as the official title sponsor of the ENEOS Presents Women’s Baseball World Cup 2014. (See special event poster, photo and sponsor logo.)

The ENEOS Presents Women’s Baseball World Cup 2014 will be held in Miyazaki, Japan, from 1-7 September, and will include the women’s baseball National Teams of Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, three-time defending champion — Japan, Netherlands, United States, and Venezuela.

The sponsorship agreement includes cash remuneration, which will also place the ENEOS brand on the logo of the premier women’s baseball event in the world. In addition, the Japanese oil giant will have a presence around the two site venues in Miyazaki, as well as across the event’s digital/web platforms and in all of the WBSC’s forthcoming communications and announcements related to the event. The oil giant returns after being a key sponsor of the III Women’s Baseball World Cup, which was held in Japan in 2008.

WBSC officials are delighted that the ENEOS brand, which has several successful partnerships across motor sports, including high-profile sponsorships for Formula One and NASCAR racing teams, has expanded its portfolio to include the ENEOS Presents Women’s Baseball World Cup 2014.

The addition of the Women’s Baseball World Cup to the ENEOS stable of blue chip sports sponsorship events also highlights the growing global community, and commercial interest and participation of women in bat and ball sports more generally, in softball as well as baseball.

“The WBSC is very proud to have a partner such as JX Nippon Oil and Energy and the ENEOS brand to support women’s excellence in sport and to deliver the best-ever Women’s Baseball World Cup in Miyazaki,” said the WBSC President, Riccardo Fraccari.

“The support and sponsorship of such an iconic Japanese brand has great potential to further raise the profile and appeal of women’s sport in the eyes of other major brands and broadcasters. And, we are very humbled to try to play whatever role we can to help increase opportunities for women through WBSC’s sport disciplines,” said the WBSC president.

Commenting on the sponsorship of the ENEOS Presents Women’s Baseball World Cup 2014, JX Group released the statement:

“Through baseball, we will continue to do social development and support the growth of the next generations.”

JX Group has a strong tradition of finding value in supporting baseball at the national level in Japan. The Japanese oil giant continues to sponsor initiatives that target people with disabilities, youth and women to encourage them to play baseball and become empowered through the team sport.

The recently elected WBSC leadership has made it one of its chief priorities to promote gender-equality and to provide more opportunities for girls and women to be empowered through sports that women like to play, like baseball-softball — and to harness the skills and leadership of women across all levels of WBSC’s decision-making structure.

“The WBSC shares and supports the Olympic Movement’s focus on boosting the number of women in sport, and we are working hard to promote the benefits of sponsorship of women’s sports in baseball and softball to major companies in order to help achieve a sporting landscape that is more relevant to women,” said WBSC Secretary General Ms. Beng Choo Low, who is also a member of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Women and Sport Commission.

The WBSC, along with other world sport governing bodies, is hoping for the opportunity to be included in future Olympic Games, pending the outcome of the Olympic Agenda 2020 review.

“It would be the highest possible honour and privilege for baseball-softball to serve under the Olympic umbrella, as an Olympic sport. This would significantly boost and harmonise our efforts in relation to increasing resources and opportunities to help more women and young girls participate in sport, from the playground to the podium, and in administration and coaching and other key sporting infrastructure roles.”

‘Premier12’ Elite Baseball World Championship to be Launched in 2015

‘Premier12’ Elite Baseball World Championship to be Launched in 2015

New world tournament reflects growing global appeal of National Team baseball events

The president of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), Riccardo Fraccari, announced today the launching of the new flagship men’s National Team baseball event, The “Premier12” world championship, which will first be staged in November 2015 in Taiwan and feature the world’s top-twelve ranked nations (The “Premier12”).

The Premier12 will be held every four years and will become baseball’s highest-ranked international competition. The Premier12 champion will be awarded baseball’s largest prize of World Ranking bonus points.

The WBSC will also guarantee prize money — a US$ multi-million cash total — among all National Teams/National Federations (NFs) participating in The Premier12 and will also cover their costs (e.g., air travel, accommodation, etc.), with the players being treated to premium services and facilities.

WBSC has elected to stage the inaugural Premier12 in November 2015, following the conclusion of many domestic league championships, to give the world’s professional players the opportunity of uniting to represent their National Teams over 10-12 competition days.

Not only has The Premier12 been positioned to avoid schedule conflicts with the world’s professional baseball leagues, The Premier12 will take place at a time when Taiwan’s climate should provide favorable performance conditions for the players/National Teams.

The WBSC will announce The Premier12’s qualified National Teams later this year (in Nov.), after the final 2014 World Rankings have been calculated. Currently, WBSC’s top twelve ranked countries in the world are No. 1 USA, No. 2 Japan, No. 3 Cuba, No. 4 Chinese Taipei, No. 5 Dominican Republic, No. 6 Netherlands, No. 7 Canada, No. 8 Korea, No. 9 Puerto Rico, No. 10 Venezuela, No. 11 Italy and No. 12 Mexico — and only a few points separate Mexico from No. 13 Panama, No. 14 Australia and No. 15 Brazil.

The Premier12’s innovative use of the World Rankings as the sole qualification method is set to give a tremendous boost to the dynamics and the value of not only the World Rankings but also the already successful Youth Baseball World Cup platforms (U-12, U-15, U-18 and U-21), whose results are all connected to the rankings.

Baseball’s World Rankings (See World Rankings and methodology) are a reflection of a country’s overall National Team programme, from Under-12 to professional level. As such, The Premier12 will act as the lead driver to cross-promote WBSC’s new and interconnected baseball tournaments-framework.

The guaranteed inclusion of the world’s best-ranked countries in The Premier12 will ensure the highest possible level of competition and will position The Premier12 to generate maximum interest from players, NFs, spectators, media, sponsors and broadcasters.

The Premier12 platform is being rolled out under President Fraccari in response to the demand from the players, WBSC’s NFs and Associate Members, commercial partners and broadcasters.

“The WBSC is thrilled to announce the groundbreaking addition of The Premier12 to WBSC’s tournaments-structure,” said President Fraccari.

“The Premier12 will unite baseball’s top nations and give baseball’s best players in the world the opportunity — and the highest honour — to play for their countries on a global stage.

“The Premier12 will be a worldwide spectacle that generates huge media numbers and will not only be very exciting but also very rewarding for the players, the NFs, the fans and for our partners, who have all driven demand for this new event.”

The blockbuster announcement of The Premier12 comes at a time when WBSC’s National Team competitions are continuing to increase dramatically in terms of their popularity, global reach and market value — and when WBSC, under President Fraccari, is seeking to strengthen the case for the inclusion of baseball/softball — one of the most recognisable, commercially successful and biggest organised sports in the world — in the Olympic Games.

“The Premier12 underlines WBSC’s commitment to further globalize and brand our National Team events,” said President Fraccari, “and the commercial and broadcast power of The Premier12 is a concrete example that clearly demonstrates the assets WBSC, our NFs and our stakeholders can deliver to the Olympic Games.”

World Baseball Softball Confederation

Global Broadcast/Media Rights

WBSC projects The Premier12 will generate a global broadcast reach that will extend to hundreds of millions homes and will be followed by millions of young mobile users through Premier12’s multi-language online/digital platforms, which are under development and expected to be available — at a minimum — in three languages (i.e., English, Japanese and Spanish). Feasibility studies will be conducted on whether to expand The Premier12 online/digital platforms to include content in Korean and Chinese languages.

Premier12 Tournament Format

There will be a total of 38 contests in the 2015 Premier12.

The Premier12 National Teams will be split into two groups of six and begin the competition with a round-robin that will see each nation play five games (30 games in total).

The top four nations from each group will advance to the next round, which begins the single-elimination knockout stages (quarterfinals, semifinals and gold-medal final). A bronze medal match will also be organised.

The Premier12 will always be scheduled in the year preceding the Summer Olympic Games and could potentially serve as an Olympic qualifier, if included in the Olympics.

The four-year cycle will also allow National Federations to map out their activity, develop their National Team brands, and formulate strategies to climb up the World Rankings ladder by competing in WBSC sanctioned competitions.

The WBSC will reveal the “global” visual brand identity, including the new logo, for The Premier12 in the coming weeks.