Federations Roundup -- Baseball Elections, Ice Hockey Champions League

(ATR) Two candidates aim to lead baseball federation in post-Olympic era...Ice Hockey discusses re-launch of European Champions League...Skiing federation adds two more Web sites...

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CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 08:  The Senior Mens field runs during the Australian selection trials for the 2008 World Cross Country Championships at Stromlo Forest Park on March 8, 2008 in Canberra, Australia.  (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 08: The Senior Mens field runs during the Australian selection trials for the 2008 World Cross Country Championships at Stromlo Forest Park on March 8, 2008 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

IBAF President Dr. Harvey Schiller is not seeking a second-term . The IBAF will hold elections on Sunday at its congress in Lausanne. (IBAF)IBAF Presidential Elections

The International Baseball Federation (IBAF) will select a new president this weekend at its congress in Lausanne. The new president will lead the sport into an era without Olympic status and IOC funding.

President of the Italian Baseball Federation Riccardo Fraccari and IBAF Secretary General of Australia John Ostermeyer are vying to succeed Dr. Harvey Schiller. Schiller is finishing a two-year term after replacing Aldo Notari, who died in office. The new president will serve a four-year term.

In an interview posted on the IBAF Web site, Schiller expressed his satisfaction at the progress of the sport but regrets baseball not regaining Olympic status in 2009.

"The biggest disappointment was the Olympic re-instatement bid, but even in that process I think we learned a great deal about how to grow the sport even without the Olympics," Schiller said. "The Olympics may not want baseball, but baseball will always embody the Olympic ideal."

Both candidates look to reform the federation and regain Olympic status.

Fraccari is running under the theme of "Change- We Must!" His platform includes holding the IBAF executive committee more responsible, reorganizing the relationship between the IBAF and its continental organizations, and cutting spending and increasing revenue. Fraccari wants to form a task force to study Olympic reinstatement.

Ostermeyer is running under the theme "TARGET 2020." The platform has five pillars – development, communications, events, marketing and governance. Ostermeyer seeks to either reform or enhance each of these pillars. Ostermeyer said that Olympic reinstatement should be a goal and the IBAF must work on gaining the support from NOCs.

The two-day IBAF Congress begins Saturday. Elections will take place Sunday.

European Champions Ice Hockey League Assesses Plans

Hockey leaders will use the time until the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games to form a competition format and a business model for the re-launch of the Champions Hockey League.

Leaders from the International Ice Hockey Federation,the top seven European national associations and leagues met in Stockholm, Sweden on Wednesday to discuss plans to re-launch the pan-European league. Marketing agent Infront Sports & Media of Switzerland has been asked to develop a business plan.

“After the pullout of some investors last week which led to the discontinuing of former CHL marketing partner Ovation Sports, this meeting was an important step forward,” said IIHF President Rene Fasel.

“We now have the commitment and mandate from the national federations and their leagues to pursue a new path towards a re-launch.”

The Champions League held its first season 2008-2009 but cancelled its 2009-2010 due to financial difficulties. The league plans to re-launch in the fall of 2010.

More Skiing Web sites

The International Skiing Federation (FIS) added two more specialized Web sites this week.

The federation re-launched a ski jumping Web site at www.fisskijumping.com. A Nordic combined site also launched this week at www.fisnordiccombined.com.

There are four specialized skiing Web sites. The two new sites join the FIS Alpine site a cross-country fan site. FIS plans to add sites for freestyle skiing and snowboard in the near future.

Briefs…

….Bauhaus agreed to sponsor the International Bobsleigh Federation World Cup tour. Bauhaus has over 200 stores throughout Europe. The company was the title of three of the past four world championships…

… The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) confirmed details for its 2010 Congress. The 32nd FIVB Congress will be held in Rome, Sept. 9-10…

…The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) delayed its release of a prohibited substances list on Tuesday until April 5, 2010. FEI President Princess Haya said that federation needed more time to study the list and review laws...

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Written by Sam Steinberg.