FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 06, 2003

COMBINED NORTH/SOUTH KOREA TEAM POSSIBLE
FOR OLYMPIC QUALIFIER
Softball Event Would Provide Moratorium From Political Tensions

Australia’s women’s national team won the bronze medal at each of the first two Olympics that softball has been played at. So, it was surprising to many that the team wasn’t among the top four finishers at last summer’s Women’s World Championship, where berths in the 2004 Summer Games came with finishing in those positions. But now, the latest eye-opener may be one of the teams Australia would have to beat in order to earn a place in Athens in 18 months.

The International Softball Federation (ISF) is supporting and encouraging the concept of a combined North/South Korea team. If formed, the squad would compete at the Asia/Oceania Olympic qualifier next month, March 21-23, in Sydney, Australia.

ISF President Don Porter already started the movement by suggesting to both Koreas that the ISF would be agreeable to supporting a combined team for the competition. He earlier contacted both Koreas’ Olympic Committees about encouraging the combined team concept and the ISF's position.

A significant step involving the two countries in softball was taken last Fall at the 14th Asian Games when North Korea participated against South Korea for the first time in South Korea. The Koreas marched together this past Saturday in the Winter Asian Games opening ceremony.

Acknowledging the opportunity for sport to break down barriers, Mr. Porter wrote in his President’s Message in a recent World Softball magazine, “…it certainly can help by putting the athletes in charge to show the world we can disagree on the playing field but that results end with the athletes and teams shaking hands, not pointing guns.”

The other major competition at the Olympic qualifier next month will come from 2000 Olympic participant New Zealand, who finished sixth at last summer’s Women’s World Championship, right behind Australia, which is how the latter earned the privilege of hosting the event, which will take place at the venue where softball was played at the 2000 Olympics. A combined Korean team would be looking to become the fourth Asian representative at the 2004 Games, with Japan, Chinese Taipei, and China having qualified by finishing second, third, and fourth respectively, at the Women’s World Championship.

For more information, please contact ISF Director of Communications Bruce Wawrzyniak at brucew@internationalsoftball.com or (813) 864-0100, ext. 229.