PLANT CITY, FLORIDA (USA) — Colorado Springs, Colorado (USA), will host the III World University Softball Championship, it was announced today. The tournament will take place from August 2-11, 2012, at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs.
International Softball Federation President Don Porter said, “We are very happy to have the details for this event finalized so that we can begin working toward another significant competition opportunity for our young athletes. This is also an important step as it relates to the World University Games programme. Colorado Springs will be a great host and I know the FISU (International University Sports Federation) officials will see the appeal of softball that has made it such a global sport.”
The 1st World University Softball Championship (2004) had taken place in the U.S. at the ISF’s world headquarters complex in Plant City, Florida, while the second (2006) was staged in Taiwan. As 2008 was an Olympic year for softball, no university event was planned then.
“FISU is pleased that University Softball returns on the WUC program. So far we had two successful World University Softball Championships. With the WUC Softball returning to the home of softball, we are confident that the third edition will be a professionally staged event and together with our partner, the International Softball Federation, we are looking forward to seeing our student-athletes shine on the diamond,” WUC Director Laurent Briel stated.
The games next year will take place at the University’s Four Diamond Sports Complex, which has hosted several NCAA Division II playoffs.
“We are thrilled to be able to host the superb World University Softball Championship next summer,” said Colorado Springs Sports Corp Chairman Dave Palenchar. “This is a significant honor for Colorado Springs and enhances its respected reputation as a superb host for major international and domestic amateur sports events.”
The event is open to all student-athletes that have not been out of a university or its equivalent for more than a year and that are between 17 and 28 years old. Any association which belongs to FISU may enter a team (women’s fast pitch). Entries are accepted from any country which is eligible for the Olympic Games and from any national federation that is affiliated to the ISF.