Photo by Whitehorse Star
George Arcand
Whitehorse snares prestigious softball event
Softball Yukon has won the hosting rights for the 2017 International Softball Federation (ISF) Senior Men's World Championship.
Softball Yukon has won the hosting rights for the 2017 International Softball Federation (ISF) Senior Men's World Championship.
The latest coup marks the fourth ISF championship bid won by Softball Yukon executive director George Arcand, reached by the Star early this afternoon in Colombia.
"We're pretty happy,鈥� Arcand said.
"Senior men's is the pinnacle. It was a bit of a fight, but it worked out well for us.鈥�
Whitehorse beat out a bid from Argentina to secure the hosting rights.
Arcand said he filed his bid presentation in June. The announcement was made today at the ISF Congress in Cartegena, Colombia.
"I don't think it was a surprise,鈥� Arcand said of the bid win.
"We have a really good reputation on the two worlds we've done. We are respected within the international federation as good hosts.鈥�
Whitehorse has previously hosted the 2008 Junior Men's World Championship, and in 2012, the Women's World Fastpitch Championship were also held at the Pepsi Softball Centre.
The 2014 Junior Men's World Championship will take place in the Yukon capital in July.
Arcand said the past two world championships held here brought $4 million to $6 million into the city.
"This one will be bigger than any of the ones we've done yet,鈥� he said. "It's the biggest one in a sense of what the numbers will be.鈥�
The men's format is open and could see as many as 24 teams compete for the 2017 world fastpitch title.
Dates for the tournament have not been set, but Arcand said he expects the world championship will take place in July 2017.
The 2015 Senior Men's World Championship will be held in Saskatoon.
As of 2012, all junior and senior world championships are held on a two-year cycle.
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Comments (3)
Up 9 Down 5
Groucho d'North on Oct 27, 2013 at 4:02 am
Kudos to George and his team! Many will read and comprehend only 'baseball' and not consider the boon these events bring to tourism and our local economy, and the broad benefit it provides to create jobs for a period of time.
I would like to see more targeted marketing to this form of tourism from the government promoters. The Quest and sporting events like this one have demonstrated their value.
Again - Well done Mr. Arcand!
Up 19 Down 2
56 Yukoner on Oct 26, 2013 at 6:09 am
Has anyone noticed the state of our ballparks? Weeds over 2 feet long at the fence line. Perhaps a portion of the $50,000 given to Sima could have been used to maintain this facility
Up 14 Down 8
Sandy Jamesen on Oct 25, 2013 at 12:11 pm
Congratulation to you Mr. Arcand and Softball Yukon for all your hard work and effort in achieving all your success. The Yukon should be proud of you!