The athletes also have representation on the ISF Executive Council, in the form of three-time Olympian Peta Edebone from Australia (above).

ISF LAUNCHING ATHLETE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
2008-09-22

To complement the continued efforts of BackSoftball, the campaign to get softball reinstated to the Olympic Games, the International Softball Federation has initiated an Athlete Ambassadors program. This project has been launched to increase activity by elite softball athletes worldwide in the BackSoftball campaign.

The ISF is currently receiving nominations for Athlete Ambassadors from their member national federations. Upon completion of that phase of the process, the world governing body will select certain athletes to represent them at different international events. The Athlete Ambassadors will also be further educated on the reinstatement campaign and will be utilized to garner more support – from other softball players as well as influential people in various international audiences. They will also receive tutelage on dealing with the media, especially in relation to BackSoftball.

The ISF already has an Athletes Commission that meets every other year at its Congress and has had some athlete representation on the BackSoftball Task Force. This latest initiative, however, is the most aggressive in putting softball players at the forefront of the steps being taken to get the International Olympic Committee, at their Session in October 2009 in Denmark, to vote to reinstate softball to the Summer Games. Softball has been played at each of the last four Summer Olympics (2008, 2004, 2000, and 1996) but was voted out of the 2012 Games by the IOC in July 2005.

ISF Director of Competition Laurie Gouthro, herself a former softball player and coach, will oversee the Athlete Ambassadors program.