Unique locale will host top women’s international softball event
PLANT CITY, FLORIDA (USA) — Whitehorse, Yukon, will host the International Softball Federation XIII Women’s World Championship in 2012, it was announced today. ISF President Don Porter said that a solid bid from the host and a successful track record made it the right choice for the marquee fast pitch event.
“Whitehorse will do a terrific job hosting our women’s world championship in 2012,†the ISF president said. “They proved as much when they organized our junior men’s world championship in 2008. Plus the community’s support for softball and their proven ability as a site for large sporting and cultural events assures us that our teams, the fans, and the media will all have a good experience that summer.â€
The unique location brings with it over 20 hours of daylight, which allows for softball games – on unlit fields – well into the evening hours. The playing facilities in Whitehorse have multiple fields, which will allow the organizers to meet what is generally a ten-day, 60-plus games schedule.
“Softball Yukon and Softball Canada are pleased to again be able to host the world,†said George Arcand, Executive Director of Softball Yukon and the Chair of the Organizing Committee for the 2012 World Championship. “After hosting a successful and exciting junior men’s world championship in 2008, we are honored to host the 2012 women’s world championship in Whitehorse. We look forward to working with the ISF to make this an unforgettable experience for our local community, fans from all over the world, and all participating teams.â€
The event in Whitehorse will come just two years after the XII Women’s World Championship, which happens this June 23-July 2 in Venezuela. As such, it fulfills the implementation of a two-year rotation for ISF world championships instead of every four years. That change was adopted at the ISF Congress this past October. Next year will be the final year of only one world championship (junior women’s, December 6-17, 2011, in Cape Town, South Africa). 2012 will also include the ISF IX Jr. Men’s World Championship (19-and-under) in Parana, Argentina.
The women’s world championship in Whitehorse in 2012 is expected to take place in July of that year, with exact dates currently being finalized.
Editor’s note: Kyle Smith and I (Ballparkradio) had the opportunity to visit Whitehorse, Yukon in the summer of 2008, to broadcast the ISF Jr. Men’s World Championships. Tournament Director George Arcand, of Softball Yukon was an outstanding host – to us — and to the teams, players, coaches and fans, so the women are in for a great experience in 2012. George is a “hands on” tournament director, with great attention to the details that make for a great tournament. Kyle and I arrived at the fields about 11pm at night – and found George sitting atop a large lawnmower, going over the outfield grass for the games to be played the following morning. No lights – but with 23* hours of daylight during the summer, none needed. Where is Whitehorse you ask? Well, take a peek at the map, where you can see it’s up by Alaska. To give you an idea how far north, I flew from Los Angeles via a stop over in Vancouver, and that was the HALFWAY mark. The fans turned out in droves, and provided an electric atmosphere for all.
Click here to view Maddy’s Photos from the 2008 ISF Jr. Men’s World Championships in Whitehorse.
*Yes, I know the ISF article above says “20 hours of daylight”, but our experience was that it virtually never gets dark, save an hour or so in the wee hours of the morning where it gets “dusky”, as they call it. It does take some getting used to, but certainly provides some long days of daylight for the tournament.
Click here to view Maddy’s Photos of the town of Whitehorse, 2008.
(Photo of Maddy, not by Maddy)