"As you celebrate this anniversary, I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations on this important milestone," Bach said
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<p>The International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach recorded a message to congratulate the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), its President Riccardo Fraccari and the entire baseball softball community for the <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/baseball-softball-community-celebrates-wbsc-10th-anniversary-world-baseball-softball-day">10th anniversary of the WBSC</a>. </p>
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<p>"Dear President of the WBSC, Mr. Riccardo Fraccari. Dear friends. It has been 10 years since the establishment of the WBSC. As you celebrate this anniversary, I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations on this important milestone."</p>
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<p>With this wording, IOC President Bach opened the 2 minutes and 20 seconds message featured on Friday, 10 May, at the Olympic Museum Auditorium to lead off the WBSC 10-year celebrations.</p>
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<p>President Bach, who <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/ioc-president-thomas-bach-welcomes-wbsc-president-riccardo-fraccari-athlete-commission-to-olympic-house">welcomed the WBSC Athletes Commission to the Olympic House</a> ahead of the <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/over-350-players-from-44-countries-participate-in-wbsc-athletes-summit">WBSC Athletes Summit</a> on Wednesday, highlighted the WBSC global footprint, built on the "long history of baseball and softball on the Olympic programme" and congratulated "my dear friend" President Fraccari and his entire team for the sport's strong position in the world today.</p>
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<p>The fencing Olympic champion in Montreal 1976 praised the WBSC's path of modernisation by "empowering athletes, strengthening governance, pioneering eSports, and innovating with new formats and disciplines, like Baseball5. By embracing change, you're developing your sport and thereby promoting and spreading our Olympic values."</p>
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<p>In closing to a round of applause, IOC President Bach added: "As you look to this bright future, to the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 and beyond, I encourage you to continue to live and be guided by our Olympic moto: 'Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together."</p>
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