The Israel Association Baseball (IAB) has announced that effective immediately, Peter Kurz will step down from his role as President of the Board of Directors of the IAB in order to focus fully on his role as General Manager of Team Israel ahead of the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020. Jordy Alter, who is Vice President of the IAB replaces Kurz until the next elections for office holders is held in 2021.

Kurz elected to step down because of the intense demands facing him as Team Israel General Manager in the run-up to the Olympic Games. Team Israel secured a place in the 2020 Olympic Games when the team won the Europe/Africa Qualifier in Italy in September.

“Peter dedicated himself to making the vision of sending a baseball team from Israel to the Olympic Games in 2020 a reality, and achieved what most would not believe possible,” says Alter, the incoming IAB President. “The task of Team Israel General Manager in the coming months will be immense and we respect the decision that Peter has made to place his full focus on this crucial role, and hopefully bring home the gold. His contributions to Israel Baseball over the past years have been innumerable, and he will continue to play a major role in his new position.”

“It has been my honor to have served over the past six years as President of the IAB,” says Kurz. “As president, I was able to expand Israel Baseball into the global arena, reaching number six in the world at the World Baseball Classic in 2017 and now, earning a place at the 2020 Olympic Games, which have been great accomplishments. I now look forward to fully investing my time and energy in ensuring that Israel is represented at the Tokyo Olympics by the best and most well-prepared baseball team possible.”