FIBS is the governing body, recognized by the Italian National Olympic Committee, of all official competitions and activities in baseball e softball in Italy. The game of baseball is known in Italy since the end of the 19th century, but it developed much later. The first edition of the championship that would have been the Italian Baseball League was played in fact in 1948. Fastpitch softball became an organized sport even later, since the first ever championship was played in 1969.