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- WBSC proud to promote women and athletes into senior
leadership positions.
The
World Baseball Softball Confederation announced today that former
professional baseball and softball athlete, Laurie Gouthro, has been named
the new Assistant Executive Director for International Softball.
Ms.
Gouthro will help lead the international softball management team, helping
to oversee and lead the organisation and legacy of the softball world
championship platforms, including the flagship Women's Softball World
Championship. Ms. Gouthro will be involved in the strategic planning,
procedural reform and the administration and operational delivery of
International Softball.
During
her tenure as director of competition, beginning in 2001, she has overseen
all world championships, including the expansion of the frequency of the
championship (formerly celebrated every four years now every two years for
each of the four softball disciplines) and also the transition to an open
qualifying system. Ms. Gouthro has also overseen the anti-doping program,
which has witnessed no positive drug results in Olympic history. She was
recently named the technical director for softball for Special Olympics
International.
Born in
Olongopo City, Philippines, Ms. Gouthro attended both Florida Community
College at Jacksonville and the University of South Florida on sport
scholarships in softball and played both professional baseball and
softball.
"Softball
has always been an important part of my life, and I am very grateful for
all the opportunities it has given me. I am excited about this new position
and welcome the new challenges that come with it," Gouthro expressed.
"I look forward to working with our President, Board and Executive
Director to raise the profile of our sport worldwide and to increase
participation at all levels of competition through our championship
platforms and development programmes."
With
softball considered to be one the world's leading team sports for women,
the WBSC is also strongly committed to harnessing the power and skills of
women in positions of sports leadership. Women currently represent 25% of
the elected WBSC Executive Board -- exceeding the International Olympic
Committee's minimum recommendation of 20% -- and the WBSC will support all
efforts to drive these numbers up further to reflect the gender-balance
that defines WBSC's global activity.
WBSC
Executive Vice President Dale McMann said, "The world softball
community is grateful to have an individual with Ms. Gouthro's experience.
We are proud to be able to promote women and athletes into leadership
positions."
WBSC will take the field next
at the 17th edition of the Asian Games beginning 19-September in Incheon,
South Korea. The regional multi-sport game offers an opportunity to expose
new fans and athletes to the bat-and-ball sports in new territories --
especially Muslim countries where the non-contact team sports, dress
codes and rules can be easily adapted for girls and young women from all
backgrounds and faiths.
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