|
In
countdown to historic Africa Congress, WBSC secures Mizuno as first 'Global
Sponsor'
- Japanese sporting goods giant to support all Youth and
Professional Baseball/Softball World Championship events in
2014
- "The WBSC remains committed to Olympic Games inclusion,
and this strategic-partnership -- the sponsorship of our youth-, women's-
and men's competition platforms -- is critical to strongly demonstrating
baseball and softball's youth and commercial appeal, and
gender-balance." -- WBSC co-Presidents Riccardo Fraccari and Don
Porter.
TOKYO
- Officials of the world governing body for baseball and softball, the
World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), have announced a new key
agreement with the Japan-based Mizuno Corporation, establishing Mizuno as
WBSC's first Global Sponsor and the Exclusive Official Game Ball Supplier
of all 2014 Baseball and Softball World Championship platforms -- from
youth to professional level -- overseen by the WBSC.
The new
WBSC-Mizuno agreement follows Mizuno's sponsorship of
WBSC's historic and first-ever World Baseball Softball Congress in Africa,
which was announced last month, and covers this year's three baseball world
championships -- the IBAF Youth U-15, U-21 and Women's Baseball World Cups
-- and this year's two softball world championships -- the ISF U19
Junior Men's Softball World Championship and the Women's Softball World
Championship.
"The
WBSC is proud to partner with a sports industry leader like Mizuno, which
will help keep the WBSC at the forefront of youth sport and further
strengthen our youth engagement platforms," stated WBSC co-Presidents
Riccardo Fraccari and Don Porter.
WBSC
leadership also hailed the agreement as highlighting the value baseball and
softball could deliver to the Olympic Movement, if included on the Olympic
Programme.
"The
WBSC remains committed to Olympic Games inclusion, and this
strategic-partnership -- the sponsorship of our youth-, women's- and men's
competition platforms -- is critical to strongly demonstrating baseball and
softball's youth and commercial appeal, and gender-balance," the
co-presidents added. "We are confident that under the Olympic
umbrella, baseball and softball's global assets could further enhance and
sustain the uniqueness, year-round message and economic positioning of the
Olympic Games, while making the Games increasingly relevant to women and
vice-versa."
The
structure of the WBSC-Mizuno agreement includes cash and value-in-kind,
extending upon Mizuno's long-standing partnerships with the International
Baseball Federation and International Softball Federation that dates back
over forty years.
WBSC
officials confirm that Mizuno will continue to serve as the Official
Competition Game Ball Supplier of the Baseball World Cups and Softball World
Championships though 2014.
Under the agreement, Mizuno
will also serve as the Official Apparel Supplier of the Tournament
Officials of the 2014 baseball/softball world championships; umpires of the
2014 Softball World Championships will also be outfitted by Mizuno.
|
