Chavez, Mata to Receive Medal of Honor

CARACAS, VENEZUELA -- Venezuela President Hugo Chavez and former Sports Minister Victoria Mata will receive the International Softball Federation Medal of Honor at a ceremony here tomorrow. ISF President Don Porter made the announcement today during the XII Women’s World Championship, which began – with 16 national teams – on June 23 and concludes with the two medal games tomorrow.

First awarded in 1990, the ISF Medal of Honor is the highest form of recognition given by the world governing body.

"These are two very deserving individuals," Mr. Porter said. "President Chavez has not only been supportive and personally involved with this world championship since it was first awarded to Venezuela at the end of last year, but he attended Opening Ceremonies last week, threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and has now expressed interest in both helping softball return to the Olympics and building a legacy for the venues used for the tournament we’ve been holding here."

Regarding Victoria Mata, the ISF president pointed to her hands-on involvement with not only this event, but the ISF XXIV Congress held on Margarita Island last October. In addition, Mr. Porter added, although she has just left her position as sports minister, she has echoed President Chavez’s desire to bring more international softball events back to Venezuela in the near future and possibly develop a South American regional training center at the site of the 2010 world championship.

"Both President Chavez and Victoria have been very visible and very involved and certainly deserving of the recognition we intend to bestow on them tomorrow for their commitment to seeing that softball continues to grow," the ISF president concluded.

The ceremony will take place at 2:30 Friday afternoon in the press conference room in La Rinconada Stadium and media members are welcome and encouraged to attend.

The ISF is the world governing body of the sport as recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and SportAccord (formerly the General Association of International Sports Federations). Softball (women's fast pitch) made its Olympic debut at the 1996 Games in Atlanta. There are 128 affiliated countries in the ISF and millions of participants in the sport worldwide.

For more information contact: Bruce Wawrzyniak at brucew@ISFsoftball.org

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