Kazuhiro Tawa, who was elected as first vice president of the new executive committee of the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) on Sunday at the IBAF Congress in Lausanne, Switzerland, was the first of the elected people to issue a statement:
by IBAF, www.ibaf.org
by Kazuhiro TAWA, Executive Director
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Lausanne, December 6, 2009
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Baseball Federation of Japan
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My election to the position of First Vice President of IBAF came as a result of a strong desire for a change of direction among the membership under the guidance of the newly elected President, Mr. Riccardo Fraccari.
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The IBAF’s 130 or so member Federations have charged me, a relative outsider in the international baseball community, with this important responsibility, which carries with it the expectations of every member. It is a tremendous honor to have earned our members’ confidence, which I take as a reflection of their regard for Japanese and Asian baseball as a whole.
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The loss of baseball’s designation as an Olympic sport presents unprecedented financial challenges for IBAF, given that the I.O.C. will no longer be providing funding. Additionally, every single member Federation will be affected by this relegation because funding from their respective Governments and national Olympic Committee will be cut.
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It is my primary mission to maintain the financial well-being of IBAF by changing or eliminating wasteful practices, improving transparency within management and activities, and ensuring growth o baseball globally.