By Chad Waller | Director of Communications & Sports Information

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced that the 2013 and 2014 NAIA Softball National Championships will be hosted by the Columbus Sports Council in Columbus, Ga. The events will be played at the South Commons Softball Complex. The 2013 national championship will occur from May 24 - 30 and the proceeding year will take place from May 23 - 29, 2014.

"We are looking forward to holding our softball national championship in the state of Georgia for the first time in our history," said Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO. "The Columbus Sports Council has a history of hosting first-class, national tournaments. We are excited for our student-athletes to enjoy this wonderful championship experience starting in 2013."

The National Championship will be contested in the Peach State for the first time in its 32-year history. Two cities in Alabama have hosted the event since 2000, with Gulf Shores welcoming the teams in 2011 and 2012.

The National Championship will take on a new format starting in 2013. The event will consist of 10 teams with a double elimination format. There will up to 19 games played during a seven-day span on one championship stadium field. Those 10 squads will be the winners from 10 different National Championship Opening Rounds. The Opening Rounds will consist of four teams at 10 different locations throughout the country contested prior to the National Championship in Columbus.

"We are certainly excited about the softball national championship being held in Columbus, Ga.," said Dennis Green, NAIA Manager of Championship Sports. "The Columbus Sports Council's experience in hosting premier softball events combined with their excellent softball facilities will surely provide a great experience for our student-athletes."

The Softball Complex was completely renovated in 1996 to host the first-ever Olympic Women's Fast-pitch Softball event during the 1996 Olympic Summer Games. In addition to the Olympics, the Softball Complex has served as host site for the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Championship, the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) National Championships, the NCAA Division I National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic and the NCAA Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championships.

The Columbus Sports Council was founded in 1995 as "Columbus '96", site of the 1996 Olympic Softball Venue. The Columbus Sports Council is a not-for-profit organization that strives to promote tourism through sporting events and creating a positive economic impact on the greater Columbus region. The CSC has hosted other national sporting events that include baseball, soccer, golf, hockey, tennis and cheerleading.

"We are excited about the NAIA Softball Championships coming to our beautiful city and being able to showcase the South Commons Softball Complex," said Herbert Greene, Executive Director of the Columbus Sports Council. "Hosting the NAIA Softball National Championship is special to Columbus and we take great pride in hosting your prestigious event. We welcome the NAIA back to Columbus, Georgia!"

There are 199 softball varsity programs that compete in the NAIA. The 2012 National Championship is currently in the middle of competition with eight teams remaining. Double-elimination action is scheduled for Monday with four games starting at 10 a.m. from the Gulf Shores SportsPlex.

To learn more about NAIA softball, click here.

To learn more about the Columbus Sports Council, click here.