An upside to delaying the 2022 Men's Softball World Cup is that organisers expect the tournament to be far more competitive.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Today marks one year to the first pitch of what is now the 2022 World Cup in Auckland.
New Zealand was initially set to host the tournament in February 2021.
It was then rescheduled for February 2022 because of Covid and then further pushed back to November 2022 to give teams more time to qualify because of a lack of travel opportunities.
Softball New Zealand CEO Tony Giles has no doubts the delay to the event will mean it'll be better.
"At the 2019 tournament we saw a number of nations mature in the men's fast-pitch game," said Giles.
"Traditionally we've had New Zealand, Canada, Australia being at the top of the game but in the last four-five years we've seen the emergence of the likes of Argentina, Czech Republic, Japan so there are truly between six to eight nations that can podium, so that's exciting for the game."
However getting international competition does remain an issue for the Black Sox ahead of the tournament.
They haven't been able to travel overseas and the last game for Mark Sorenson's team was at the 2019 World Cup in Prague, where they finished fourth.
"We've had to be innovative in trying to develop a domestic competition that is relevant for his group to prepare themselves.
"Even with the government's announcement (easing of border restrictions), when you're an amateur sporting body, sevens days of self-isolation is still a tough gig when it's another week of leave for guys that are in full-time employment," said Giles.
"However we now know with some surety that most of our countries will have the ability to actually be here."
Mark Sorenson Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Club softball has started in the rest of the country but because of the lockdown the Auckland competition hasn't been possible.
"We're planning on some pinnacle domestic events around provincial and club competitions in February and March and then from April the Black Sox will get together and play intrasquad games as well as some games against age-group teams.
"We are also looking to travel to Australia in May for a delayed ANZAC series."
Twelve teams will play the World Cup at Rosedale Park on the North Shore in November 2022.
New Zealand and Australia have so far qualified along with Czech Republic and Denmark from Europe, while the rest of the teams will be confirmed over the coming months as they go through qualifying tournaments.
New Zealand is the most successful nation, having won the World Cup title seven times, the last in 2017.
New Zealand has hosted the Men's World Cup three times previously, Lower Hutt in 1976, Christchurch in 2004 and Auckland in 2013... and the Black Sox won each time.
Today's online launch of the tournament will allow fans to purchase tickets and find out more information at www.SWC2022.com