WBSC Executive Board meets: Three new members welcomed, athletes' rights and responsibilities enhanced
The Executive Board of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) held a virtual meeting on Wednesday, taking key decisions to continue the exciting development of international baseball and softball.
Among the most significant outcomes, the Board approved new three members, welcoming the Baseball Association of DPR of Korea (which replaces the Baseball & Softball Association of DPR Korea) and the Baseball & Softball Federation of Luxembourg as new WBSC Members. Additionally, Na7ive Na7ions (USA) was accepted as a new WBSC Associate Member, while the merger of the Russia Baseball and Softball Federation was approved. All new memberships are subject to final endorsement at the upcoming 6th WBSC Congress, to be held in Bangkok, Thailand from 16 to 18 October.
The WBSC now has 194 (184 full Members, 10 provisional Members) National Federations and 15 Associated Members in 141 countries and territories across Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe and Oceania
In another important development, the WBSC Athletes Commission presented its ongoing work to the Executive Board, including a proposal outlining athletes' rights and responsibilities. The document - introduced by Athlete Representatives Ayako Rokkaku and Randolph Oduber - was developed following the recent IOC Athletes Forum and will be submitted for consideration at the upcoming Congress. It highlights athletes' rights such as:
To promote the ability and opportunity of athletes to:
- Practise sport and compete without being subject to any type of discrimination
- Be part of a transparent, fair and clean sporting environment, particularly one that fights against doping and competition manipulation, and provides for transparent umpiring, qualification processes, and competition schedules.
The document also includes athletes responsibilities such as:
To encourage athletes to:
- Uphold the Olympic values and adhere to the Fundamental Principles of Olympism.
- Respect the integrity of sport and compete as a clean athlete, by not doping and not manipulating competitions.
The Board also reflected on the two most recent WBSC tournaments to be staged - the WBSC U-15 Women's Softball World Cup in Italy and the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Finals in Canada - congratulating both champions - Japan and Venezuela. There are six more tournaments left in the 2025 event season with the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025 presented by RAXUS next on the agenda, taking place in Tainan (TPE) from 25 July to 3 August.
Other items on the agenda saw the Board approv an updated version of the WBSC Statutes, which have been updated to align with the WBSC's growing number of activities, while the Treasurer's Report on the 2025 Budget and 2023-2024 Profit & Loss balance sheet was also approved. Both items will be presented at the WBSC Congress 2025 for approval.