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BackSoftball has underlined its commitment to promoting the growth of the sport around the world by pledging to use potential Olympic revenue to support National Olympic Committees in Oceania through development grants.

Addressing International Olympic Committee President Dr. Jacques Rogge and Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC) President Kevan Gosper at the ONOC General Assembly here this week, International Softball Federation Deputy Secretary General Ms. Low Beng Choo (Malaysia) and Ms. Danielle Stewart a 2008 Olympic softball bronze medalist from Australia, provided a compelling case for softball’s reinstatement onto the Olympic Programme.

Ms. Low said, “Oceania is an active region for softball and I am delighted to say that the number of young people and females participating is on the increase across the region. Our global agenda perfectly matches the priorities and values for the Olympic Movement recently expressed by President Rogge.

“Softball is significantly helping increase the numbers and the role of women in sport around the world. We strive hard to contribute to the worldwide fight against doping in sport. Our doping free record proves that. In over 100 countries we are engaging youth of the world in sport and increasing the role of Olympism in Education – in particular to combat obesity and crime among youth.

“We never forget our grassroots and the humble beginnings of our sport. A bat… a ball… and group of friends playing in a field; a city street; a village square. Sport at its most pure. For some sports, like softball, Olympic Games status is the catalyst for achieving enormous growth around the world. But there is always more to do; so, we pledge to re-invest part of the revenue that would come from Olympic Games status back into development of softball across this region. Each NOC here will be eligible to apply for new development grants.”

New Zealand’s own Bob Leveloff, the ISF VP/Oceania was also on-hand.

Ms. Stewart explained why Olympic Programme status means so much to softball players around the world, saying, “I had the honor of representing Australia and the Oceania region in Beijing. Okay, we didn’t win gold. That honor belonged to Japan for the first time. But just competing at the highest level was enough. The Olympic Games is the absolute pinnacle of our sport. Our best players are guaranteed to compete at the Olympic Games.”

This is a busy time on the softball field as well with the final preparations underway for the 10th Arafura Games in Stewart’s home country, beginning in early May. That event has previously featured teams from Brunei, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Nauru, Northern Marianas, Papua New Guinea, United States, and Australia, underlining the international popularity of softball.

Softball was first featured in the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996 and last year’s competition in Beijing was very successful with a total attendance close to 180,000 and a continuation of the sport’s excellent record of no positive drug tests in major competitions.

A final decision on which sports will be added to the current roster of 26 at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games will be made at the 121st IOC Session in Copenhagen in October this year.