25/06/2024 2 Minute Read

ASOIF Governance Review: WBSC makes further improvements; Top marks for transparency

The WBSC, who scored 45 out of a possible 48 points in the transparency section, has been ranked as the top IF compared to eight others of a similar size and featured nine times in the best examples, including in integrity investigations, diversity monitoring, environmental monitoring and social responsibility.

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) is pleased to announce that the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) Fifth Review of International Federation Governance identified the WBSC as continuing to make significant improvement.

ASOIF’s review is undertaken to encourage good governance across its 32 member International Federations (IFs) and the WBSC scored 202 out of a possible 240 to place 11^th out of 32 IFs. The WBSC, which ranked 12th amongst 33 IFs in the previous evaluation in 2022, is also positioned in fourth place out of the 13 IFs in Group A2 and has been ranked as the top IF compared to eight others of a similar size.

Among the WBSC's improvements, which were highlighted by the ASOIF Governance Taskforce, was an update of the role of the Legal Commission in the electoral process, while in the transparency section the WBSC scored 45 out of a possible 48. The WBSC was also featured nine times in the best examples, including in integrity investigations, diversity monitoring, environmental monitoring and social responsibility.

In addition, the WBSC performed well on a number of the new indicators for 2023-24, for example carrying out monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions in 2022 and demonstrating a range of activity to promote athletes’ rights

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari highlighted the importance of continuing their operational improvement and was particularly proud that the organisation maintained its strong standing among Summer Olympic IFs.

“The WBSC is committed to maintaining strong standards of governance and setting an example to our continental associations and member federations, and ASOIF’s report confirms that we are achieving our aims," President Fraccari said. "I am pleased to see the changes we have made in the past two years have been recognised by this ASOIF report and am especially proud that our transparency score was so high, highlighting the commitment we have made in this regard."

ASOIF used 60 indicators in total to judge the 32 IFs on, up from 50 in the last review, with a target score of 150. For the first time all IFs reached the target number with an average score of 174.

In April this year, the WBSC published its latest annual Governance Report for 2023/2024 in English and Spanish, continuing its commitment to fostering a culture of transparency and accountability within the organisation.