Softball Europe board confirmed the Men's European Championship and the Women's European Championship for 2021.

The Men's European Championship will be held in Ledenice and Sezimovo Ústí, Czech Republic, from June 21 to 26, 2021. The Women's European Championship will be held in Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Italy, from June 27 to July 3, 2021.

All the teams taking part in the Men's European Championship will not require to quarantine before the start of the event. Czech Softball got permission from the Czech Ministry of Healthcare to organize the premier European event. 

The testing of all participants (excluding persons who are fully vaccinated, had COVID less than 90 days before the event, or will have the written copy of negative PCR test from Saturday and later) will be provided during Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday in Ledenice. All expenses for testing will be covered by Czech Softball. 

Czech Softball President Gabriel Waage stated: "our goal is to host a safe event with no extra expenses of participating teams due to covid. All organizers, members of participating teams, and Softball Europe officials will be tested and the costs will be covered by Czech Softball.".

The Italian Baseball and Softball Federation (FIBS) also confirmed that no quarantine will be required to participating teams after enter Italy and prior to the start of the 2021 Women's European Championship. 

Both the Men's and the Women's European Championship will run under Softball Europe COVID protocol, the National Federation COVID protocol, and the laws of the countries in which the events take place. 

The 2021 Men's European Championship will serve as a qualifier for the WBSC Men's World Cup 2022, which will take place in New Zealand in 2022.

The 2021 Women's European Championship will serve as a qualifier for the World Games 2022, which will be held in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2022.

Also read: New dates for the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup
Also read: Softball Europe cancels the Coed Slowpitch European Championship
Also read: Israel Softball announces the Women's NT roster
Also read: EMRYT will not take place in 2021

/ Elda Ghilardi
Photos by Grega Valancic