A new Memorandum of Understanding signed in Tokyo will enable the Japanese federation to help its counterpart in France ©WSBC

The Japan Softball Association (JSA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the French Baseball Softball Federation (FFBS) pledging to support the French national team's continued development and the long-term expansion of softball in France.

The cooperation will begin this week, as the FFBS participates in a first-of-its-kind observer programme during the Japan versus United States All-Star Series that begins in Tokyo today.

"This spirit of collaboration between world-leaders like Japan and up-and-comers France is hugely encouraging, and characteristic of our inclusive, global sport," World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) secretary general Beng Choo Low, who attended the MoU signing in Tokyo, said.

"The WBSC is building a billion-strong global baseball-softball community, and growing our sport across Europe is an absolute priority for us."

The observer programme will give France's national team players, coaches and administrators a chance to learn from their counterparts as the US, world number one, take on the world number two team in a three-game series.

The games are due to staged at the Tokyo Dome, Shellcom Sendai and finally at Fukushima Azuma Stadium, one of the baseball-softball venues of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The MoU stated: "Both JSA and FFBS desire to have the status of baseball and softball retained as Olympic [events] for the 2024 Olympic Games to be held in Paris, France."

Under the MoU terms, the JSA will provide its expertise to help continue the upwards trajectory of France's national team, and help the FFBS to develop the sport at the elite and grassroots levels.

New links with Japan are helping France to build on its softball ambitions ©WBSC
New links with Japan are helping France to build on its softball ambitions ©WBSC

Under the agreement, the JSA will annually send teams, players and officials to France to hold warm-up and exhibition games with teams from around Europe, and in particular France.

These events will be coordinated by FFBS.

The French Federation will also welcome Japanese coaches, who will help to improve targeted technical and tactical skills at the French national team level.

"The JSA is eager to play its part in the global development of our sport by helping our friends at the FFBS fulfil softball's enormous potential in France," JSA President Hiromi Tokuda said.

"This MoU formalises our commitment to share best practices and ideas with colleagues in the global softball community."

FFBS President Didier Seminet added:  "We are proud of the work we have done to develop our national teams and climb the world rankings over the last few years.

"This cooperation agreement with Japan, beginning with the All-Star Series observer programme, is a great opportunity to see the world's best in action and drive our own standards higher as we look to compete with Europe's top teams."