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Baseball World Cup final will stay in Taipei, says GIO

A visiting official from the International Baseball Federation yesterday rejected the Cabinet's proposal to reschedule the 34th Baseball World Cup final, in which it sought to hold the closing game and awards ceremony in Kaohsiung County.

During a meeting with Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄), the federation's inspection official, Miquel Ortin, turned down the Cabinet's proposal, putting an end to the ongoing political spat between Taipei City and Kaohsiung.

"The federation has held a series of meetings to discuss and finalize the schedule, therefore, it will be very difficult to change the schedule on such short notice," the federation's executive director Ortin was quoted as saying in a press statement released by the Cabinet's Government Information Office yesterday.

Ortin had said on Wednesday that he was pleased with the improvements made to Taipei's Tienmu Baseball Stadium in preparation for hosting the tournament, but refused give a definite answer as to whether the federation had decided to reject the Cabinet's proposal.

In response, Chang told Ortin that he "fully respects the federation's regulations and customary practices for determining the schedule," the statement added.

The Chinese-Taipei Baseball Association (中華棒協) also confirmed that both events would take place in Taipei's Tienmu Baseball Stadium, as originally scheduled.

"The ball-game schedule announced previously remains effective," said Richard Lin (林宗成), the association's executive secretary, adding that he appreciated Kaohsiung County's enthusiasm in co-hosting the tournament's games.

Lin also said that after the November tournament, both Kaohsiung's Chengching Lake Baseball Stadium and Taipei's Tienmu Baseball Stadium, along with two other stadiums in Taipei and Chiayi counties, would be further upgraded as international stadiums to prepare Taiwan for the chance to host other international ball games.

Lin added that Japan's Pacific League has decided to hold two baseball games -- between two professional teams, Orix and Daiyei -- in Taiwan in May.

At yesterday's meeting, Chang also expressed his wish to invite newly-elected International Olympic Committee chairman Jacques Rogge to attend the tournament in Taiwan.

In response, Ortin said he would forward the premier's "sincere invitation" to Rogge.

Chang also instructed related government agencies to assist with the tournament's promotional activities.

Ortin also told Chang that, after the November tournament, he would help Taiwan win bids to host international baseball games, including the 2003 Senior World Championship Baseball Tournament and the 2004 World College Championship Baseball Tournament.

The Baseball World Cup final will take place from Nov. 6 through Nov. 18 in Taipei, Kaohsiung and Chiayi.
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