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The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has officially joined the Global Observatory for Gender Equality & Sport (GO), reinforcing its commitment to advancing equality both on and off the field of play.
“With the GO, we share the mission of tackling inequalities encountered by women and girls in both sports and society,” commented WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari.
“Our mission is clear, to bridge the gap between research and decision making, paving a way for actionable solutions to dismantle barriers to equal participation of women and girls at every level of physical education, physical activity, and sport,” added Go Research Director Dr. Lombe Mwambwa (PhD).
The WBSC has long championed gender equality through its sports. It sanctions both women’s and men’s events in baseball and softball, while also launching Baseball5 – a dynamic, mixed gender discipline. Designed to promote inclusivity and equality, Baseball5 will make its Olympic debut next year at the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026.
Further strengthening its commitment, the WBSC established two dedicated commissions. The Diversity and Inclusivity Commission is led by Olympic volleyball gold medallist Yumilka Ruiz (Cuba), while Hiroko Yamada (Japan) leads the Women’s Baseball Development Commission.
As a member of the GO’s Advisory Council, the WBSC will have a direct role in helping shape the future of the GO’s contribution to gender equality in sport and ensuring a mission informed by a diversity of stakeholders.
Founded in July 2021, under the auspices of UNESCO and supported by the Swiss Confederation, the GO serves as a global convenor and repository of research and expertise on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in and through physical education, physical activity and sport (PEPAS).
The initiative originated from UNESCO’s 4th International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS IV) in Athens, Greece, in 2003. The commitment to the GO was reinforced by the 2017 Kazan Action Plan (KAP) at MINEPS VI, in Kazan, Russia and further reaffirmed at MINEPS VII in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2023, with support from over 100 member states.
