Nigeria Baseball and Softball Federation hails international merger

The two federations deemed it necessary to fuse into one for the growth of the sport.

The Nigeria Baseball and Softball Federation on Thursday said that the merger by the International Baseball Federation and International Softball Federation would help to get the sport back in the 2020 Olympic Games.

The Secretary of the Federation, Kehinde Laniyan, said via telephone that the move would put the sport ahead of others also being considered for the Games.

According to him, the sport featured in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, before it was de-listed by the IOC from the 2012 London Olympic Games.

“The two federations deemed it necessary to fuse into one for the growth of the sport. And I am very hopeful that the bid by the new World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC) will get the sport back in the Olympics,” he said.

Mr. Laniyan added that all necessary measures have been put in place by the NBSF, to ensure that the country was adequately represented when the sport is finally included in the 2020 Olympics.

“We are already gearing up to ensure that the country participates in the sport when it is back in the Olympics,’’ he added.

Meanwhile, Robert Onwukwe, the Technical Director of the Lagos State Baseball and Softball Association, also described the merger as a welcome development.

Mr. Onwukwe said that the development would give the sport an edge over other sports that were being considered for the 2020 Games.

“This is a very good development for baseball and softball players, as well as fans of the sport all over the world,” the technical director said.

The campaign, which was launched in Tokyo, Japan, followed an historic vote by delegates and leaders of the international baseball and softball federation, in a bid to get the sport back in the Olympics.

NAN recalls that the IOC Executive Board had on February 12 in Lausanne, Switzerland, announced the decision to remove wrestling from its itinerary and replace it with some other disciplines.

The sports being considered are: Squash, Karate, Baseball and Softball, Wushu Kung Fu, Roller sport, Sport Climbing, and Wake Boarding.

(NAN)