Softball City in South Surrey will be hosting this summer’s WBSC Americas Olympic Qualifier for women’s softball.
The tournament is slated for Aug. 25 to Sept. 1 and will involve 16 countries competing for two berths into the 2020 Olympic Games in Toyko. Host Japan and reigning world champion United States have already secured two of the six berths.
It was back in 2016 when the International Olympic Committee approved the return of softball and baseball to the Summer Games for the first time since 2008.
“We are really excited about the chance to host this Olympic Qualifier, we thank the WBSC for the opportunity” stated Softball Canada President Kevin Quinn. “Our host organizing committee, led by Greg Timm, is an experienced group that focuses on both the player and fan experience.”
Canada won bronze at the 2018 WBSC Women’s World Championships in Japan, after also finishing third at the 2016 event in Surrey. The Canadian team is currently ranked third in the WBSC World Rankings and is poised for a strong showing at the Qualifying event.
“We knew we were up against stiff competition in securing this bid” added Timm. “Our committee, volunteers, fans and players couldn’t be more excited. It’s going to be a very memorable experience, as we all get the opportunity to be part of softball’s journey to the 2020 Olympic Games.”
The WBSC has also announced that the Asia/Oceania Olympic Qualifier will be held in China while the Europe/Africa Olympic Qualifier will take place in the Netherlands. The winner of each of those two events will earn the final berths for the 2020 Olympic Games.
