History

World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) is the world governing body for the sports of baseball and softball that was established in 2013 by the historic merger of the International Softball Federation (ISF) and International Baseball Federation (IBAF) , the former respective world governing bodies for baseball and softball. Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, the WBSC was granted recognition as the sole competent global authority for both the sports of baseball and softball by the International Olympic Committee at the 125th IOC Session on September 8, 2013. The WBSC has 208 National Federation Members in 141 countries and territories across Asia, Africa, Americas, Europe and Oceania. Professional baseball organizations are also included and form an arm of the WBSC as Associate Members. As the recognised governing body in baseball/softball, the WBSC is charged with overseeing all international competitions and holds the exclusive rights of all competitions, tournaments and world championships featuring National Teams. WBSC’s members hold the rights to organize and select National Teams. This exclusive authority of the WBSC and its Members in each constituent country to sanction and regulate the sport of baseball applies in the 141 territories in which the WBSC has an associated National Federation. For the position of President, Secretary General and Treasurer all the affiliated NFs have the right to vote, with one vote for those governing baseball and one vote for those governing softball, Therefore, NFs governing both baseball and softball together shall be entitled to casting two votes. The two athlete representatives will be appointed by the Athletes Commission. Within WBSC, Baseball and Softball and its respective disciplines are ruled by the Baseball and Softball. It is foreseen that the permanent commissions, as typically outlined in the statute of each International Federation and as required by the IOC, which will be supporting arms to the executive in addressing specific/complex topics.