GET READY FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SOFTBALL
2006-08-25

From August 27-September 5 in Beijing, China, it’s the International Softball Federation’s (ISF) XI Women’s World Championship. The big event only happens once every four years, and the 2006 edition is a blockbuster. The top four finishers (or top five if China is one of the top four) will qualify for the 2008 Olympic Softball competition. It’s also the first event being played in the new stadium built for the Summer Games two years from now. And, the world championship is also serving as softball’s Olympic Test Event (for 2008).

Fans around the world will want to be sure to keep up on all the action. Here is a complete list of resources to keep you connected with softball’s 2006 Women’s World Championship…

To get up-to-date
Read (from 2006) the April 14 and March 3 articles, as well as that from December 22, 2005 on the Latest News Archives page. Also, click here to see the March 27, July 19, July 27, August 10, and August 23 press releases. You’ll also want to read the first item in the March 8 newsletter, the third item in the July 12 newsletter, and the last item in the July 27 newsletter on this page.
Also, to review the goings-on at the last ISF Women’s World Championship (2002), go here.

For the game schedule
Go here, which is also linked to in the July 27 and August 23 press releases.

For TV coverage information
Using the link above under “To get up-to-date,” read the press release from two days ago.

For at-a-glance game scores
Visit this page during round robin play while the tournament is in progress.

To talk about the tournament
Post your comments in the “Our National Team” forum on the ISF Message Board.

To learn more about the teams
Visit the website of the national softball federation whose team you would like to find out more about. Click on the country name from the list of ISF Members at the bottom of this page. Some federations will have a representative at the 2006 world championship providing various reports back to their respective websites, including USA Softball, who will have online scoring of the American team’s games.

For the official event website
Go to www.2006softball.org.