© Pim Van Nes
60-year-old Croatian Krunoslav Karin, former secretary general of the CEB (the European Baseball Confederation), has been appointed the first President of WBSC Europe in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Karin obtained 44 preferences against the 26 of FIBS President Andrea Marcon, thus achieving an absolute majority.
The new number one in European baseball and softball, thanking Congress, invited the whole community to come together by saying that “we can only be united if we work together, we are here because we love the greatest games in the world”.
WBSC President Riccardo Faccari instead stressed that “the start of this new era for WBSC Europe can help baseball and softball to increase practitioners, fans, media attention and sponsors on the continent”.
The other assignments of WBSC Europe were also assigned during the Congress. Gabriel Waage, former Co-President of WBSC Europe and former President of ESF, has been named Vice President of Softball. Petr Ditrich, former WBSC Europe at Large member and CEB Vice President, WBSC Europe Baseball Vice President. Ami Baran, former legal advisor to WBSC Europe and secretary general of the ESF, has been appointed general secretary. Eddy Van Straelen, ESF treasurer since 1993, was re-elected treasurer. WBSC Europe.
In the first round of voting, François Collet and Vermidas Neverauskas were elected WBSC Europe members at Large Baseball. Juergen Elsishans was elected a WBSC Europe member in the second round of voting. Kristian Palvia, Mette Nissen-Jakobsen and Youri Alkalay were elected as members of the WBSCE. Voting for the two athletes’ representatives is expected to take place at the first baseball and softball events of the year.
