Dear Friends in softball,
     Welcome to the brand new www.softballevents.com – the official site of 2008 European Cup Co-ed Slowpitch and European Cup-Winners Cup Women B-pool. It is a real pleasure for me to address you in this very special year for Bulgarian Softball Federation.
     Exactly 20 years ago, together with my good friend, the journalist Nikolay Mirazchiiski, we have announced in the newspaper “Narodna mladeg” that a softball team will be formed. In this particular day in May 1988 over 30 girls show up and turn on the clock of the history for the softball in Bulgaria.
     During the congress 2008 in Athens with another old friend - Peter Arbov (president of Dupnitsa Devils Baseball and Softball Club and also part of the early-years softball program) we have decided that we are ready for the challenge to host two competitions together and celebrate our 20-th anniversary accordingly.
     So… Welcome to Dupnitsa, Bulgaria! Even this is a small town, there you can find everything: mountain, lake, spa, gourmet, shopping, music and … new friends.
We will do our best to make your stay nice and to give you a chance to focus on the main goal - TO ENJOY THE GAME.
     I intend to ask all presidents of the Balkan region Softball Federations (Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Greece, Romania, Turkey and Bulgaria) to be my guests for some days during the competitions. We have an important business to take care - formal establishment of Balkan Softball Association. We believe that this act will be in favor not only for us (regional federations), but also for entire sport of softball and will provide one more evidence for IOC to bring us back in the Olympics.
     Let’s keep in touch until September 1-st, when we can PLAY BALL!!!


     Yours,
     Youri Alkalay
     President of Bulgarian Softball Federation
     Vice-president of European Softball Federation

---