Press Release International Baseball Federation, www.ibaf.org
LAUSANNE, SWIZTERLAND – Newly elected International Baseball Federation (IBAF) President Riccardo Fraccari has completed a professional baseball tour including the Far East and New York to further develop and tighten the IBAF’s rapport with professional baseball organizations. Fraccari views professional baseball as an integral part in the global expansion of baseball.
“Baseball is a global game, with professional baseball located in many different places. Asia is one of our strongest regions, and we look forward to forging long term relationships in conjunction with our relationship with MLB to develop our mutually beneficial strategic goals,” said Fraccari on arriving back in Italy.
The whirlwind journey involved an engagement with the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) Commissioner, You, Young-goo, followed by meetings and discussions with the Chinese Professional Baseball League Commissioner Chao, Shou-po in Chinese Taipei. The final leg of the hectic Asian schedule involved meetings with Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) commissioner, Ryozo Kato in Okinawa.
“We agreed to keep in touch to discuss further. It is good to expand baseball horizons together; we discussed matters frankly” Commissioner Kato said.
After the meetings with Asian Professional baseball, Fraccari flew to New York for meetings with MLB’s brass including MLB President, Bob DuPay, Executive Vice President Tim Brosnan and Senior Vice President Paul Archey.
“The meeting with MLB was positive, and I feel that international baseball is entering a unique stage with exciting opportunities,” stated Fraccari upon leaving the meeting with MLB
Fraccari also made a stop in Hong Kong for the opening day of a women’s baseball tournament, The Phoenix Cup, which is one of the premier events in Women’s baseball.
The meetings are a prelude to Fraccari’s first meeting of his executive, which will come together in Rome on the 20th of February 2010.
