Baseball5 in Africa: Zambia Olympic Committee supports Baseball5 with an eye to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games
The National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) joined with the Zambia Baseball and Softball Association (ZBSA) to launch Baseball5 at the Olympic Youth Development Centre - OYDC Zambia - for young, upcoming, as well as seasoned, athletes.
Speaking at the launch, NOCZ Treasurer Victor Banda, who was representing NOCZ President Alfred Foloko, applauded ZBSA for introducing Baseball5 into the centre's curriculum, which already includes 21 sports codes, and further encouraged the association to work tirelessly and prepare athletes in readiness for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
ZBSA Vice President Andrew Zulu said Baseball 5 has the potential to become one of the most celebrated and played sports in the country if people take a keen interest and invest in it.
Baseball5 was introduced in Zambia in February 2019. ZABSA hosted a Coaching Seminar run by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) which featured a total of 30 coaches who participated.
Baseball5 has been introduced and is currently played in Chipata in Eastern Province, Senanga in Western Province, Kabwe in Central Province, and various parts of Copperbelt Province according to the NOCZ.
Baseball5, WBSC’s new five-on-five mixed discipline, will be featured at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the first International Olympic Committee official event in Africa, and also at the 2023 African Beach Games in Tunisia.
The inaugural Baseball5 World Cup is expected to be played later this year.
Last month, the WBSC held a workshop at the OlympAfrica centre in Somone, Senegal aimed at developing Baseball5 and Mini-Baseball across Africa. The participants were the directors of the OlympAfrica centres across Africa including in Lusaka, Zambia as well as others in Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal and Uganda.
Photo: National Olympic Committee of Zambia