by press release, International Softball Federation
The International Softball Federation is reaching out to photographers and softball fans around the world to gather some compelling imagery to portray the action, emotion, and passion of softball for the BackSoftball campaign.
Being launched just prior to the Beijing 2008 Olympic softball competition (August 12-21), the contest’s winning photographs will be used throughout this next year of the campaign to illustrate the desire for reinstatement on the Olympic Program in 2016.
ISF President Don Porter remarked, “Another positive and productive initiative in support of the Back Softball campaign, good photographs make good stories better.”
The ISF receives numerous correspondences from softball players, coaches, parents, umpires, and fans asking how to get involved and help towards the reinstatement of the sport on the 2016 Olympic Program. This contest is the chance to capture that perfect picture that will ‘tell a thousand words’ and, in turn, help depict softball’s universal appeal.
The ISF is looking for photos that tell the story of the smiles, tears, joy, anger, wholesomeness, fair play, universality, and competitive rivalry that are all part of the essence of softball.
The Overall Grand Champion will win USD$1000 Cash, the Overall Color Photo Champion will receive a miniature bat, and the Overall Black-And-White Photo Champion will receive a golden souvenir medal. Other prizes include 2008 Olympic softballs; softball bats; softball fielder’s gloves; participation diplomas, and BackSoftball pins.
The contest will be held from now until November 1, 2008 and cover a series of categories: a) Pitching, b) Hitting/Batting, c) Fielding, d) Sliding/Base Stealing, e) Crowd/Fan shots, f) Miscellaneous Player shots. Photos must be taken between January 1, 2007 and October 31, 2008 and up to three images may be submitted per category. Winners will be announced December 1, 2008.
Entry forms, rules, the prize list, and other contest-related information can be found online at
http://www.internationalsoftball.com/english/latest_news/photo_contest.asp.