Police have launched an investigation into gambling on the results of the Baseball World Cup tournament, local media have reported.
Police said the 16-team tournament has not only re-ignited "baseball fever" in the country, but has also helped re-establish "liu ho tsai" (六合彩) -- a popular gambling-lottery that was established some 10 years ago.
"Gamblers outside the stadiums are more excited about the results than the audience inside the stadiums," police said.
Boys will be boys
A couple of fans tested the bounds of good taste while exercising Taiwan's freedom of speech during the Taiwan vs. Team USA game at Chengching Lake Stadium in Kaohsiung County on Sunday.
One fan held aloft a picture of Osama bin Laden with the words, in English,? "Americans you will lose."
The sign was shown repeatedly on the stadium's giant outfield video screen.
In response, another fan had a sign with a target painted on it and the words, "Drop them here, not on Afghan refugees."
Scalpers get in on game
Counterfeit tickets for the Baseball World Cup are becoming a problem, local media have reported.
The Chinese Taipei Baseball Association has reported that many "yellow oxen" (
Tickets for the tournament are originally priced from NT$150 up to NT$500. A scalped ticket, however, is priced at NT$800 upwards.
According to the Association, more than 23,000 baseball lovers poured into Chengching Lake (
The Stadium only has 20,000 seats.
with additional reporting by Jeffrey Wilson
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