FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2004

SCHEDULE SET FOR FIRST COMPETITION IN
OLYMPIC VENUE IN ATHENS

The game schedule for the Athens International Softball Tournament – also known as the Olympic Sport Test Event – was released today by the International Softball Federation (ISF) and ATHOC (Athens Olympics Organizing Committee). The ISF had announced last September that the Czech Republic, Great Britain, Greece, and Russia would be the teams who will compete in the first competition to be played in the host venue for the 2004 Olympic softball competition.

The Test Event will take place next month, from March 24-28. The teams will play each other one time each before moving into the playoffs (semi-finals, final, and grand final).

“This event provides the opportunity to test the venue facilities and technology to be used in the Games in August, as well as the grounds and other workings of the venue,” said ISF President Don Porter. “We also feel that the these four teams will be very competitive and entertaining.” He also expressed his satisfaction with the construction phase of the venue. “This might be the best of the three stadiums that Olympic softball will have been played in, which says a lot since the facilities in 1996 and 2000 were so exceptional that they’re still being used regularly today.”

The game schedule for next month:
GAME 1: Wed., March 24 (10:00) – Czech Republic vs. Great Britain
GAME 2: Wed., March 24 (12:30) – Greece vs. Russia
GAME 3: Thu., March 25 (10:00) – Great Britain vs. Greece
GAME 4: Thu., March 25 (12:30) – Czech Republic vs. Russia
GAME 5: Fri., March 26 (10:00) – Russia vs. Great Britain
GAME 6: Fri., March 26 (12:30) – Czech Republic vs. Greece
GAME 7: Sat., March 27 (10:00) – Semi-Finals
GAME 8: Sat., March 27 (12:30) – Semi-Finals
GAME 9: Sat., March 27 (17:00) – Finals (Bronze Medal Game)
GAME 10: Sun., March 28 (17:00) – Grand Final (Gold Medal Game)
Medal Ceremony immediately following Grand Final

The event will also be a good opportunity for Greeks to come out and see their national team, which, in coordination with the ISF, has been being built for the Olympics for over two years now, led by Head Coach Linda Wells.

The event is free and open to the public.

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