Press Release International Baseball Federation, www.ibaf.org
Federation To Provide New Equipment To Replace That Destroyed In Building Collapse, And Will Honor The Memory of Young People Who Were Lost In The Saint Boi Tragedy As Part Of 2009 World Cup
(LAUSANNE, Switzerland) – The International Baseball Federation (IBAF) today announced that it will provide new equipment and additional support material to Barcelona, Spain’s Saint Boi Baseball Club, which will help replace all that was lost during the club’s building collapse in a storm on 24 January. Four children were killed in the collapse, which was caused by heavy winds, and many others were injured. The club building and all its equipment were also destroyed.
“The IBAF is pleased it can help the people of the Saint Boi club in any way possible heal from this tragedy, and their request for new equipment, especially some pitching machines, is the least we can do,” said IBAF Secretary General John Ostermeyer. “Baseball has long been a game which brings people of all backgrounds together, and there is no greater time for the baseball family to join together in support than when a tragedy such as this occurs. It is a small gesture, which we hope will assist those at the club heal in some small way.”
The IBAF also added that it will honor the memory of those lost and injured in the tragedy when play begins for the 2009 World Cup on 10 September. Barcelona, the city where baseball returned to the Olympics in 1992, will play host to games between Spain, South Africa, Puerto Rico and Cuba during the first round from 10-12 September. Other first round games will be held in Regensburg, Germany, Moscow, Prague, and Sundbyberg (Stockholm), from 9-12 September. The second round will be split between Italy and the Netherlands, while the final round will be in Italy on 27 September. In total, 22 nations will compete for the coveted world championship.
About the International Baseball Federation (IBAF)
Founded in 1938, the International Baseball Federation is a non-governmental organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as administering men’s and women’s baseball at the world level. Located in Lausanne, Switzerland – the Olympic Capital – and counting 125 National Member Federations, the IBAF organizes the IBAF Men’s and Women’s Baseball World Cup, the AAA (18U) and AA (16U) World Championships, the Olympic Games Baseball Tournament, and it sanctions the World Baseball Classic, among other international baseball tournaments. The IBAF works to develop and grow the game of baseball around the world. For more information, please visit www.ibaf.org.