Thimphu, Bhutan, July 8, 2021: The Bhutan Olympic Committee is celebrating the affiliation of the local baseball and softball association to the world governing body – the World Baseball Softball Confederation.
The BOC announced on July 2 that “Bhutan is officially a World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) member after the WBSC Executive Board approved it at the most recent virtual meeting” and added: “Yay Bhutan way to go!”
Established in 2013, the Bhutan Baseball and Softball Association has six clubs – Thimphu Red Pandas, Paro Ravens, Wangdue Cranes, Phuentsholing Crocodiles, Gelephu Tuskers and Samtse Rhinos – and has 800 registered players at youth and senior levels.
National Federations must meet certain criteria and activity standards to become recognised by the WBSC.
The recent meeting of the WBSC Executive Board approved the membership of both Bhutan and the Saudi Arabia Baseball and Softball Federation.
The two memberships of the national governing bodies, which will need to be ratified at the next WBSC Congress in 2022, will raise the countries and territories in which WBSC has a member to 141.
The growth of international baseball and softball, as highlighted by the new Saudi Arabia and Bhutan memberships, aligns with WBSC's recently announced strategic plan to make baseball and softball core Olympic sports.
The addition of the Saudi Arabia and Bhutan federations would bring the total WBSC membership to 213, with 77 National Baseball Federations, 68 National Softball Federations, 55 combined Baseball and Softball National Federations and 13 Associate Members, which include professional and youth leagues around the world.