Softball Supports the Association for Women in Sports Media at 2008 Convention

Plant City, FL, February 09, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Back Softball, the International Softball Federation's (ISF) campaign to re-instate softball as an Olympic sport for the 2016 Games, will sponsor a breakfast this Saturday morning, February 9th, from 8:30 to 9:30 at the Association for Women in Sports Media's (AWSM) annual convention in Miami, Florida.

The convention will be held at the Grand Bay Miami Hotel in Coral Gables and the agenda will include three days of speakers, working sessions, panel discussions, and networking on a multitude of topics featuring females working in the sports media arena.

ISF President Don Porter commented, "The International Softball Federation is really pleased to attend and be a sponsor at the Association for Women in Sports Media's annual convention. The ISF totally supports what the professional journalists are doing to advance the opportunities for girls and women in sport and in the media."

Vicki Michaelis, AWSM President and the lead Olympics reporter and Denver bureau sports reporter for USA Today, affirmed, "The Association for Women in Sports Media is very grateful to the International Softball Federation for its sponsorship of AWSM's 2008 convention.

"Just as AWSM has fought for two decades for equal opportunities and access in sports media, the ISF is now fighting for continued access to sport's biggest stage, the Olympics. We understand the challenges softball and its athletes and supporters face, and we wish them well."

This coming Saturday morning's breakfast will feature ISF Strategic Task Force
Co-Chair Donna de Varona and ISF Director of Communications Bruce Wawrzyniak speaking about the current status of the Back Softball campaign.

Donna de Varona is an Emmy award winning broadcaster and two-time Olympic gold medal swimmer and was one of the first women hired as a sports reporter for a major network (ABC).

"I am grateful for the opportunity to take part in the AWSM conference," she said. "I look forward to meeting up with many of my friends and colleagues to discuss the current status of the international Back Softball campaign. The International Olympic Committee's progressive action in mandating equal opportunity for women's participation in the Olympics has changed the sporting landscape worldwide.

"Since 1996 when softball made its inaugural appearance in the Games thousands of young women in 130 countries have taken up the sport. The decision to then drop softball after so much progress is disheartening. I look forward to sharing insights into our Back Softball campaign. It is our hope that this issue, during this Olympic year, will be given fair and comprehensive coverage.

"Just as the AWSM members have fought for equal access in the sports media, the decision to drop softball from the Olympic calendar must be given fair and comprehensive coverage in the media," she concluded.

The Back Softball campaign team is working on a busy agenda of activities and promotions this year all leading up to the Olympic Games in Beijing during August, and the subsequent 2016 Olympic programme vote in October 2009. More information can be found online at both www.BackSoftball.com and www.internationalsoftball.com.

Media: For more information, please contact ISF Director of Communications Bruce Wawrzyniak at brucew@internationalsoftball.com, (1.813) 864 0100, ext. 229, or (1.813) 453 8762 (cell) or Back Softball Media Relations Director Laura Walden at lwalden@backsoftball.com or (1.813) 864 0100, ext. 224.

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