2025 Year in Review - Sport for All: Blind Baseball and Baseball5 power another year of growth
Throughout the year, Blind Baseball and Baseball5 were central pillars of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)’s Sports for All initiatives.
In close collaboration with the Italian Blind Baseball Association (AIBxC), a WBSC Associate Member, the WBSC supported activities aimed at expanding Blind Baseball participation, strengthening structures and increasing visibility for the discipline.
Read More: WBSC expands global Blind Baseball Development Programme
As highlighted in the Baseball5 and Legacy Club Year in Review articles, the WBSC also further strengthened its commitment to inclusive sport by introducing Baseball5 - the WBSC's five-on-five version of Baseball/Softball - to people in different social situations including those with intellectual disabilities, broadening access and reinforcing the organisation’s wider inclusion strategy.
The WBSC's partnership with VIRTUS, the International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairment, also continues to go from strength to strength with the introduction of Baseball5 to its members as part of the WBSC's commitment to supporting the implementation of a Baseball5 programme for interested VIRTUS members.
Growing Blind Baseball movement across Europe...
In early October, five national teams – Italy, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Czechia and Germany – competed for the Blind Baseball European title at the historic Steno Borghese Stadium in Nettuno, the city south of Rome known in Italy as La Città del Baseball. Italy confirmed their status as Europe’s leading nation in the discipline, completing an undefeated run and outscoring their opponents 50–3 to retain the continental crown.
While AIBxC continues to lead Blind Baseball development in Europe, other countries are rapidly following suit. The Netherlands, a relatively new entrant to the discipline but a traditional home of paralympic sport, launched a notable accessibility initiative during the European Championship. At the Neptunus Familiestadion in Rotterdam, the Royal Dutch Baseball Softball Federation (KNBSB) introduced dedicated stands for blind and visually impaired spectators, welcoming around 100 fans and their companions.
The initiative was inspired by the experience of Paralympic swimming champion Liesette Bruinsma, who in 2024 became the first athlete to establish a dedicated grandstand for blind spectators at a major international sports event outside football. Her work not only enhanced access to elite sport but also provided a model for other disciplines to follow. In recognition of her impact, Bruinsma received the Pahud de Mortanges Trophy at the most recent General Assembly of the Dutch Olympic Committee, honouring the most inspiring role model in Dutch sport.
Czechia also marked important milestones during the year. In June, Prague Baseball Week featured a historic Blind Baseball training session described by organisers as “groundbreaking”, with support from the Czech Baseball Association. The Eagles Prague built on that momentum by hosting a Blind Baseball Clinic in August, which organisers hailed as “a huge step” for the discipline’s development in Europe.
....and beyond
Blind Baseball’s reach extended well beyond the continent in 2025. AIBxC partnered with the Mother Africa (Mamma Africa) non-profit organisation to introduce Blind Baseball in Madagascar. Two Italian Blind Baseball League clubs, Leonessa Brescia and Umbria Redskins, donated balls and uniforms, while AIBxC supported the education of local coach Elisera Rakotonomenjanahary, who went on to establish a Blind Baseball programme in the country.
Chinese Taipei also joined the Blind Baseball global movement, officially launching a national programme and setting its sights on participation in the 3rd WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup. On 14 September, the country held its first-ever training session, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the sport in the region. The project was initially conceived in 2024, when the Chinese Taipei Baseball and Softball Association for the Disabled travelled to the United Kingdom to attend the WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup.
Another milestone came with the inaugural Play for Peace Blind Baseball tournament, organised by the Pakistan Blind Baseball Association in partnership with the Leonessa club under the guidance of Sarwar Ghulam, who chairs both organisations. An Africa selection won the tournament, defeating Latin America in the final, while Europe overcame Asia in the third-place game. The event brought together players from Italy and five other countries of origin – Morocco, Senegal, Pakistan, India and Peru – alongside athletes from Great Britain and Hungary. Hosted in October at the Sebastiano Chia Field in Bergamo, in Italy’s Lombardia region, the tournament is expected to return for a second edition in 2026.
Leadership within Blind Baseball also took an important step forward in 2025. In October, AIBxC elected Eva Trevisan as its new President. Born in 1980, Trevisan has been a prominent figure in Italian softball for more than three decades. She played 36 games for Pianoro Blue Girls in 2025, posting a .390 batting average and a .467 on-base percentage, and represented Italy internationally 213 times, ranking third on the national all-time list. She also represented the WBSC at ASOIF's Women Lead Sports Programme in March 2024, underlining the growing role of women in leadership positions across the international baseball and softball community.