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President applauds world champions in `beep baseball'

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday met the Tamkang Homerun (淡江紅不讓) baseball team, which won this year's Blind People's Baseball World Cup, saying that the accomplishment promotes a positive message that encourages physically challenged people.

On July 31, the team won its second consecutive world championship in Houston, Texas. Chen immediately sent a message to congratulate the Taiwanese team upon hearing the news.

It was originally thought it would be too difficult for blind people to play baseball.

But the invention of the first "beep baseball" system in 1964 in the US triggered a long process of development that would allow the visually challenged to play ball.

In 1976, the first official baseball game for blind people was held in Minnesota.

A world championship has been held in the US ever since then.

Yesterday, Chen said that the development of baseball for the blind allows visually challenged players to enjoy the happiness of striking the ball and getting sweaty while running around the bases.

"I'm so touched by your great performance in the game. It shows that people are able to not only cultivate sport skills but also bring hope to blind people in Taiwan," Chen said.

Chen stressed that baseball is Taiwan's "national sport," and has been fanatically supported by Taiwanese for decades.

Taiwan is the first Asian country to develop baseball for blind people, and the first to establish a team.

Chen said that he would ask government agencies to provide physically challenged people with more facilities and assistance in a bid to ensure their "right to exercise."

In addition, Chen said that participating in international games is not only good for winning awards, but also winning the friendship of people from different countries.
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