The highest-profile sporting event in Taiwan's history, the XXXIV Baseball World Cup, was formally opened yesterday at the Tienmu Baseball Diamond in suburban Taipei.
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), accompanied by Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) and Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), attended the opening ceremony to welcome 16 participating national teams from around the world.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Despite the unexpected cold weather and drizzle, over 10,000 baseball fans attended the ceremony and roared their welcome when the president, premier and Taiwan's national team came onto the field.
PHOTO: REUTERS
"I have previously announced that 2001 is Taiwan's baseball year," President Chen said as he addressed the ceremony. "And this is a rare opportunity for Taiwan to host a first-class sporting event on the world stage, in which the toughest 16 teams from around the world have come together to compete. Through broadcasting, Taiwan can raise its international visibility and prove its ability to host world-class games," Chen said.
Competition began when, following Chen's announcement to "play ball," Premier Chang threw the first pitch before the opening game between Taiwan and Italy, which Taiwan won 6:1.
Premier Chang later said that he had practiced pitching with the secretary-general of the Executive Yuan, Chiu I-jen (
International Baseball Federation (IBAF) Chairman Aldo Notari and Chinese Taipei Baseball Association Chairman Peng Cheng-hao (
Mayor Ma welcomed foreign players and fans to Taipei, saying he hoped the tournament would boost consumer spending in the city, helping it to recover its prosperity.
Among the 16 teams which are likely to present stiff competition to Taiwan are the US and Cuba, winner of 22 world championships and current Olympic champions. Japan and South Korea, two of the strongest Asian teams, are present, as are Australia and the Netherlands, whose teams include high-profile professional players. Central America, cradle of many baseball stars, is represented by Nicaragua and Dominica.
During the 13-day tournament, games are to be staged in various stadiums in Taipei City, Taipei County, Chiayi City and Kaohsiung City.
"We are confident of being placed among the top four teams after the second round," said Taiwan's national team head coach Lin Hwa-wei (
From the 1980s to the early 1990s, Taiwan's national baseball team ranked among the top five in the world and won the silver medal at the 1992 Olympic Games. In recent years, however, the national team has declined, failing to qualify for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
But hopes for renewed success were raised again after Taiwan's dream team, composed of both professional and amateur players, won the Asia Cup last year. So much so that many in the nation are now looking to the team to provide a much-needed morale boost by winning the contest on Taiwanese soil.
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