Press Release
French Baseball & Softball Federation will host a leg of the European Big League Tour 2013 at the Institut National du Sport, de l’Expertise et de la Performance to promote baseball for youth on November the 23rd and 24th. Up to 400 kids will be able to meet and learn from professional Major League Baseball Players sharing their passion for baseball with youth Federation members through instructional clinics.
Didier Seminet, FFBS President: “We are glad the European Big League Tour 2013 decided to stop in Paris next November. We know how important such events are to promote baseball and we want to thank the EBLT organization and Major League Baseball for giving us this tremendous opportunity to grow baseball in France. I’m delighted to give our youth members the opportunity to meet these Major League Baseball Players they always dreamt about. These clinics for the kids will be held at I NSEP, a state-of-the-art sports facility in Paris. We are now looking towards November to welcome the EBLT in Paris !”
Wim van den Hurk, European Big League Tour President: “European Big League Tour is tremendously happy and honored having found another very cooperative partner in Fédération Française de Baseball et Softball to promote baseball throughout Europe. Giving the French baseball youth the opportunity to show their skills to some of the Greatest MLB players under the guidance of their National team players is something all kids are looking forward to.”
About the European Big League Tour
The European Big League Tour was founded by former Major League, now KBO Samsung Lions pitcher and native Dutchman, Rick VandenHurk (Florida Marlins, Baltimore Orioles, Pittsburgh Pirates), and has been supported by MLB and MLBPA. It was established to promote the game of baseball throughout Europe, stimulate baseball’s return to the Olympics, support the many Baseball Academies in th e region and bring the dream (that turned into a reality for Rick) closer to the aspiring youth baseball players throughout Europe. European Big League Tour is an event dedicated to the promotion of baseball in Europe by realizing kids dreams to practice with Baseball Greatest. Youth between the ages of 8-16 aregiven the opportunity to learn the game from some of the world’s finest players throughinstructional clinics. Founded in 2010 by former MLB Dutch Player Rick van den Hurk and hisfather Wim, EBLT will hold its 4th edition in 2013.
About MLB International
Major League Baseball International (MLBI) focuses on the worldwide growth of baseball and the promotion of Major League Baseball and its club s through broadcasting, market development, licensing and sponsorship initiatives. MLBI is committed to showcasing the world’s best baseball talent through international events around the globe. Broadcast in 219 countries and territories, Major League Baseball game telecasts are re-transmitted in 19 different languages. MLBI executes and supports game development programs targeting players and coaches from grassroots to elite levels. With an extensive list of marketing partners worldwide, MLBI continues to grow its position as a leader in the international marketplace. MLBI is supported in its mission through presences in Beijing, New York,London, Sydney and Tokyo.
About MLBPA
The Major League Baseball Players Association (www.MLBPLAYERS.com) is the collective bargaining representative for all professional baseball players of the thirty Major League Baseball teams and serves as the exclusive group licensing agent for commercial and licensing activities involving active Major League baseball players. On behalf of its members, it operates the Players Choice licensing program and Players Choice Awards, which benefit the needy through the Major League Baseball Players Trust, a charitable foundation established and run entirely by Major League baseball players.
About the French Baseball & Softball Federation
Founded in 1924 after the Paris Olympic Games, the French Baseball & Softball Federation (FFBS) currently counts more than 10,000 players, 200 clubs as well as 5 national academies