13/10/05 - MEETING OF SOFTBALL ATHLETES WITH IOC PRESIDENT Six athletes representing the International Softball Federation (ISF), along with ISF President Don Porter and ISF Director of Competition Laurie Gouthro met Tuesday (October 4) with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Dr. Jacques Rogge, in Lausanne, Switzerland. The athletes - Joanna Bouziou (Greece), Alison Bradley (Canada), Mayumi Murakami (Japan), Michele Smith (USA), Jelena Tomic (Croatia), and María Jesús Vázquez (Spain) - expressed to the IOC President their strong desire to see softball retained on the Olympic Program after 2008, and the experiences they related to during their careers and the positive affect the Olympics had on them and their teammates. They especially coveted the young female athletes now playing softball, who hold the same desires and dreams of participating in the Olympics. From left to right: ISF President Don Porter, Maria Jesus Vázquez, Jelena Tomic, Alison Bradley, IOC President Jacques Rogge, Michele Smith, Joanna Bouziou, Mayumi Murakami, & ISF Director of Competition Laurie Gouthro. The meeting, which lasted close to an hour, covered the process of softball working toward reconsideration of the 2012 Program vote that took place in Singapore in July that resulted in a 52-52 vote. President Rogge was very complimentary of the athletes and the ISF for their efforts in developing softball on a worldwide basis. Source: ISF web site 07/10/05

30/09/05 - CHIQUI VÁZQUEZ, SOFTBALL AMBASSADOR Chiqui Vázquez, Vice President of the European Softball Federation (ESF) and member of the Rivas-Vaciamadrid Club has been chosen by President of the International Softball Federation (ISF) Mr. Don Porter to be one of the 6 Softball Ambassadors to help reinstate Softball in the Olympic Games of 2012 and beyond. The other Athletes Ambassadors are: Michelle Smith (USA), Jelena Tomic (Croacia), Alison Bradley (Canada), Joanna Bouziou (Greece) and Mayumi Murakami (Japan). Next week, the six Softball Ambassadors together with Mr. Porter will travel to Lausanne (Switzerland) to have a meeting with the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Mr. Jacques Rogge with the purpose of reinstating Softball back into the Olympic Games.

27/09/05 - RIVAS JUNIOR SOFTBALL TEAM, FOURTH PLACE AT THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP The RIVAS CIUDAD DEL DEPORTE MADRID 2012 junior team finished in 4th place at the "2005 Girls Junior Softball National Championship" played from September 23rd to 25th in Barcelona, where 8 spanish teams participated. Champion team has been Antorcha from Valencia who defeated Atlético San Sebastián at the Final (6-5). For more information see section RESULTS.

20/07/05 - DISAPPOINTING RESULTS FOR RIVAS AT THE 2005 QUEEN'S CUP Women Softball team RIVAS CIUDAD DEL DEPORTE MADRID 2012 ended up in fourth place at the 2005 Queen's Cup after loosing the two qualifying games played Our sincere gratitude to Rivas fans who were supporting the team all the time.

11/07/05 - BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL WILL REMAIN ON THE LIST OF OLYMPIC SPORTS. New Olympic Programme in 2012. The 117th IOC Session in Singapore voted last day to include 26 of the 28 current Olympic sports on the programme of the Games of the XXX Olympiad in 2012. The Session decided that baseball and softball will remain on the list of Olympic sports as noted in the Olympic Charter, rule 46, but will not be on the programme for 2012. The two sports are, however, eligible for inclusion in the programme of the 2016 Games. More information in: Comisión Mujer y Deporte International Oympic Commitee

11/07/05 - VILADECANS DEFEATS RIVAS IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE TOP DIVISION. Women softball team RIVAS CIUDAD DEL DEPORTE MADRID 2012 won only one game of the PLAY OFFS versus Viladecans, played last week end: Rivas 5 - Viladecans 4, but lost the second game (0-14). Scores of the first and second games of the Play Off (Viladecans, 03/07/05) were 9-5 in the first game and 7-4 in the second one. With these results the Rivas women softball team ended the National League in second place and champion was VILADECANS. Third place was for KIROLGI OBB and fourth place for ANTORCHA. Fifth and sixth places were for HÉRCULES L'H and ATLÉTICO SAN SEBASTIÁN respectively.

20/06/2005 - RIVAS CADET TEAM, SEVENTH PLACE IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP The RIVAS CIUDAD DEL DEPORTE MADRID 2012 cadet team finished in 7th place at the "2005 Girls Cadet Softball National Championship" played from June 17th to 19th in Gavá (Barcelona), where 7 spanish teams participated. Champion team has been Atlético San Sebastián who defeated Ordizia at the Final (9-4). For more information see section RESULTS. The level of the competition was quite high and our young players were not able to follow it. Hope and excitement were not enough to compensate the lack of experience on the field. Coaches of our cadet team have a very positive valuation of their participation in this championship and really hope to improve qualification for next year. These young players have shown us, once more, that in spite of bad results it is possible to enjoy playing since they learn from their own mistakes and their rivals. Our sincere gratitude to Rivas fans (friends and parents) who were supporting the team all the timefine.

29/04/2005 - 1st ROUND OF THE LEAGUE FINISHES Women softball team "Rivas Ciudad del Deporte Madrid 2012" shares first position of the standings with Viladecans at the end of the first round of the National League, Top Division. Rivas team has won 8 games out of the 10 played, scored 91 runs and got 41 runs against. Hits have been 80 and 24 errors. About hitting statistics, Laura Burstein and Patricia Sáenz both from the Rivas team, are third and fourth respectively of the general standings whereas Mariah Fike is fourth at the pitching statistics. Second round of the League starts Sunday, May 8th. RIVAS will then play its last game at home against ANTORCHA. The field will not be playeble from then on due to reconstruction working so Rivas will have to play away the rest of the weekends of the League left.

14/03/2005 - RIVAS WOMEN SOFTALL TEAM STARTS THE NATIONAL LEAGUE NEXT MARCH 20th AWAY. On the first day of the League, our women softball team RIVAS CIUDAD DEL DEPORTE MADRID 2012 will play away double headed against ANTORCHA from Valencia.

11/02/2005 - CHIQUI VÁZQUEZ ELECTED AS VICEPRESIDENT OF THE ESF Chiqui Vázquez, player of the women softball team "Rivas Ciudad del Deporte Madrid 2012", member of the Executive Council of the Club and member of the General Meeting of the RFEBS was elected Vice-President of the European Softball Federation (ESF) last February 6th at the ESF Congress held in Prague. The Spanish candidate got 23 out of the 25 possible votes from the participating European Federations. She was elected as one of the 5 Vice-Presidents of the ESF for the next four years after giving a magnificent speech. Special guests attended this ESF Congress: Don Porter, President of the International Softball Federation (ISF) - see picture talking with Chiqui Vázquez and Luis Melero, Delegate of the RFEBS at the Congress; Andrew Loechner, General Secretary of the ISF and Cindy Bristow, Director of Development of the ISF.

11/02/2005 - IOC EVALUATING COMISSION FOR MADRID 2012 ARRIVED TO RIVAS LAST SATURDAY Members of the Evaluating Commission (representing the International Olympic Committee) were split into two groups on their third visit day. One of those groups arrived to Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Olympic venue for baseball and softball for the 2012 Olympic Games. From the terrace of the shopping centre "Covibar 2" in Rivas-Vaciamadrid, this Commission -together with Mayor of the city José Masa, members of the Town Council, President of the RFEBS Julio Pernas, Vice-President of the RFEBS Chusa Martín and ex President of the RFEBS and member of the Executive Council of the CEB and the IBAF Miguel Pozueta- was able to view the piece of land on which baseball and softball venues will be built.

24/01/2005 - NEW TECHNICAL STAFF FOR WOMEN SOFTBALL TEAM This season our women softball team RIVAS CIUDAD DEL DEPORTE MADRID 2012 has new staff members: José Luis Saint-Claire Mañe as Manager and Susana Sesmero García as Coach. Last technical staff had managed this team since 2003 but could not continue doing so because of their working responsibilities. There is also a new Assistant Coach for the cadets: Maribel Marín will manage this team together with first Coach Lily Otermin, who is also a player of the women's team.

24/01/2005 - CHIQUI VÁZQUEZ, CANDIDATE FOR VP OF THE ESF MªJesús Vázquez, known as Chiqui Vázquez, player of the women softball team "Rivas Ciudad del Deporte Madrid 2012", member of the Club Rivas-Vaciamadrid Executive Council and member of the General Meeting of the RFEBS, will be presented as candidate for one of the five Vice presidencies of the ESF next February 6th, at the ESF Congress to be held in Prague.

24/01/2005 - CHUSA MARTÍN, VICEPRESIDENT OF THE RFEBS Chusa Martín, president of our Rivas Club, has recently been elected as Vice-President of the "Real Federación Española de Béisbol y Sófbol" (RFEBS) after last elections for the Federation Presidency in which Julio Pernas was re-elected. Chusa Martín, as Vice-President, will be in charge of the relations with Madrid 2012 Office, with the Intercontinental Cup 2005 and will represent the RFEBS on behalf of the President when necessary.

12/01/2005 - SOFTBALL INTERCONTINENTAL CUP: National teams from USA, China and Italy confirm their participation. National teams from USA (2004 Olympic Gold Medal), China (2004 Olympic fourth place) and Italy have confirmed their participation on the WOMEN SOFTBALL INTERCONTINENTAL CUP to be held in Rivas-Vaciamadrid next July 22nd to 27th. Total number of participants is expected to be eight, including Spain. No doubt that this will be a sports event that will prepare Rivas city to host 2012 Baseball and Softball Olympic Games, if Madrid candidature succeeds.