By Duncan Mackay, Inside the Games
Don Porter has stepped down as President of the International Softball Federation after 26 years October 26 – American Don Porter has stood down as President of the International Softball Federation (ISF) after 26 years in charge and been replaced by Canada’s Dale McMann at the organisation’s Congress in Cartagena, Colombia.
McMann, the 60-year-old first vice-president, was elected unopposed after both Porter and American Warren Jones decided not to stand.
Porter had been elected five times and under him the sport had been elected onto the Olympic programme, making its debut at Atlanta 1996.
But it was controversially voted off again by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at its 2005 Session in Singapore and was dropped after Beijing 2008.
Porter has since overseen two unsuccessful attempts by the sport to regain its place, most recently at the IOC Session in Buenos Aires last month when it finished second behind wrestling, which had been recommended for exclusion after Rio 2016 by the ruling Executive Board only to mount a strong challenge to retain its place.
In an attempt to help softball win back its position on the Olympic programme for 2020 Porter had helped broker the formation of a new governing body with the International Baseball Federation (IBAF).
The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has already vowed to continue fighting to restore both softball and baseball – also voted off the Olympic programme after Beijing 2008 – to the Games.
Porter will remain as Co-President of the WBSC with Riccardo Fraccari until the organization’s first Congress next March.
McMann had served as President of Softball Canada between 1990 and 2001 and as a ISF vice-president since 1993, helping them establish their headquarters in Florida.
“Dale McMann is a remarkable Canadian sports figure who has more than three decades of experience and success in growing the sport of softball in both Canada and the world,” said Marcel Aubut, President of the Canadian Olympic Committee.”
“I have full confidence that his previous roles as first vice-president of the ISF and President of Softball Canada will ensure he is a valuable asset in his new position.
“The ISF is in great hands.”
Australian Darryl Clout was elected as first ISF vice-president and Venezuela’s Jesus Suniaga as second vice-president.
Malaysia’s Beng Choo Low retained her position as ISF secretary general.