Two Taiwanese ballparks yesterday became the world’s first to be opened to spectators for professional baseball this year, underscoring the nation’s success in containing the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CPBL games had the visiting Uni-President Lions facing the Fubon Guardians at the Sinjhuang Stadium in New Taipei City, while the CTBC Brothers hosted the Rakuten Monkeys at the Intercontinental Stadium in Taichung.
The Guardians hanged on for a 7-6 win after the Lions scored four runs in the top of the eighth.
Photo: CNA
Fubon’s Chiang Chih-hsien hit a solo dinger in the fifth against American pitcher Ryan Feierabend and the Lions’ Chen Yung-chi blasted a three-run homer in the eighth against Fubon’s relief pitching.
In the night’s other contest, the Brothers downed the Monkeys 6-4.
Health authorities on Wednesday said that ballparks could be opened to spectators as long as social distancing rules were enforced, as restrictions are being eased across society. That ended nearly a month of shuttered gates.
Photo: CNA
The CPBL season began on April 12, also a world first for pro baseball this year.
Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) and New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) attended the game in Sinjhuang to ensure proper prevention measures were observed.
The ballclubs invited Chen as a special guest to address the players and fans.
As he walked to the infield, spectators gave him a standing ovation, with many calling: “Thank you, health minister.”
“Taiwan’s prevention measures to combat the pandemic situation had all of our citizens cooperating with diligent efforts to achieve our common goals,” Chen told the crowd. “Today we did not have any new cases ... and that means 26 straight days with zero local cases in Taiwan. This is due to the combined efforts of all of our citizens.”
“Because of these results, we can take the next step to opening up,” he said. “To do this, we have to implement a new lifestyle, which includes personal hygiene practices like washing hands, wearing masks, social distancing and temperature taking. These must be done well at all times.”
“Today we start with opening ballparks, but with limits and in phases,” he said. “Step by step, let us see if we can continue to contain the virus.”
“To maintain a good life, let us do this together,” Chen said. “We can have success in containing the outbreak, so let us cheer each other on.”
Fubon Guardians general manager Chris Tsai presented a bouquet to the minister, thanking him on behalf of sports fans for opening ballparks.
Fubon head coach Hong Yi-chung presented Chen with a placard, smaller versions of which were presented to each spectator and media personnel, to commemorate the occasion.
They read: “Congratulations on being the first fans to attend a baseball game this year.”
The CPBL, in consultation with health authorities, introduced disease prevention conditions for spectators, including advanced ticket purchases online with ID verification, a limit of 1,000 people in designated seats that are staggered for social distancing, mandatory masks, and no eating, although drinking water is allowed.
Cheering and flag waving are permitted.
People began lining up outside the Sinjhuang Stadium in the late afternoon, and temperatures were taken before entry. Seats and tables were set up where each person filled out a health declaration and their recent travel history. Staff checked tickets and IDs, and disinfectant was sprayed on spectators’ hands before they could enter the stadium.
Some spectators complained about the no-eating rule, saying that three hours is too long to go without food.
These games are a test and restrictions would be eased eventually, Chen said.
The eating ban is to prevent virus transmission through saliva, he added.
One fan surnamed Kuo told reporters that he would surely get hungry and would leave the stadium to buy food before returning to the game.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS