The International Softball Federations (ISF), lobbying for the sport to be included in the Olympic Games, opened its first European office in Lausanne Switzerland Thursday, which a press release says will form the hub for the development of the sport in Europe and help garner closer contact with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International sport federation colleagues.
The office is home to 20 international sports federation and was officially opened by ISF President Don Porter along with members of the IOC administration and guests from the Maison du Sport International (MSI).
According to the federation the establishment of a European base underlines the ISF’s commitment to softball in Europe following the implementation of regional training centres in Italy and Russia last year.
With an office in Lausanne the ISF says it will be in a stronger position to exchange ideas and information with 40 softball federations based in Europe.
Porter said, “we are determined to use this location to forge stronger relationships with member federations and potential new federations in Europe”. He added, “softball is growing faster in Europe than anywhere else in the world at present, with huge numbers of young people getting involved in the sport, and we’re delighted to be able to support them from close at hand now”.
General Association of International Sports Federations Chairman Hein Verbruggen said, “Europe is a significant growth area for softball and it is important for the sport to have a base in the heart of Europe to manage the planning an marketing of the sport’s development”.