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The International Softball Federation (ISF) made a landmark pledge of sustainable support to the boys and girls of Africa by launching an initial USD$100,000 development fund for youth at the African Softball Forum taking place here.

This is the latest commitment by the ISF to underline its commitment to the youth of the world, using softball as a transformational tool to build communities and promote peace and development.

The development fund also further strengthens the BackSoftball campaign’s focus on youth, one of the core Olympic values, together with the accessibility of sport to women. Softball’s exemplary anti-doping record in top level competition is further reason why softball is becoming so popular throughout the world.

Speaking at the African Softball Forum, ISF President Don Porter explained to delegates from 12 African nations that this is further proof of the ISF’s vision to promote softball to young people across the world.

He said, “The popularity of softball is growing in Africa at a tremendous rate and the ISF felt it was the right time to provide financial and logistical support. This is further proof of our commitment to using softball to help communities develop around the world. We have already seen what a difference softball can make to people of all ages but this fund will focus on helping young people across Africa realize their sporting dreams through softball.”

The International Softball Federation is entering into a partnership with the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and its African counterpart, FASU (African Students Sports Union), to provide the funding over a three year period.

The African Softball Forum, which was officially launched by Hon. Sheriff Gomez, Gambian Secretary of State for Youth & Sports, includes workshops on accessibility, sponsorship and marketing, the BackSoftball campaign, the development of sport in Africa, and using sport as a peace-building tool. BackSoftball Task Force Co-Chairs Donna de Varona and Dale McMann are in Gambia with the ISF president.

Softball was first featured in the 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 doping tests in women’s international softball since testing began in 1982.

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.