43 member federations of the Confederation of European Baseball and the European Softball Federation gathered in Athens, the cradle of the modern Olympics, to give birth to WBSC Europe on Saturday, February the 2nd, 2019.

European Baseball and Softball leaders are walking in the footsteps of WBSC which completed its merger in 2017 and is the sole governing body for Baseball and Softball recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

The merger, which had started by delegates agreeing on the process during the 2018 inaugural WBSC Europe Congress in France, entered a new phase this year with the approval of the constitution and the election of an interim Executive Committee which will oversee the development of this new continental body until 2021 when CEB and ESF are set to dissolve.

The Executive Committee is composed of 10 members, five from CEB and five from ESF and is led by CEB & ESF Presidents Didier Seminet and Gabriel Waage who will serve as co-presidents of WBSC Europe until 2021.

The composition of the Executive Committee: co-Presidents Didier Seminet and Gabriel Waage, Secretary General Krunoslav Karin, Treasurer Eddy van Straelen, Vice-Presidents Mette Nissen-Jakobsen, Youri Alkalay, Kristian Pälviä, Petr Ditrich, Roderick Balk and Marco Mannucci.

Didier Seminet, WBSC Europe co-president: “It’s a historical day for Baseball and Softball in Europe. I’m very proud that CEB and ESF were able to work together and demonstrate the unity of our sport by forming WBSC Europe. We are all looking forward to continuing to work on the future of our sport in Europe.”

Gabriel Waage, WBSC Europe co-president: “WBSC Europe is great option to make us stronger and we have to make all the best to create space, where everybody will find own field and will feel comfortable in.”

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About WBSC Europe:

The World Baseball Softball Confederation Europe is the new governing body for baseball and softball in Europe. WBSC Europe has 43 National Federations. Together with the European Softball Federation and the Confederation of Europe Baseball it governs European competitions involving official National Teams.