Baseball Season is Back!
Olympic Qualifiers--Right Here in Taichung!

Words and photos by Taichung City Goverment
Translated by Sho Huang

Taichung is getting prepared for another epidemic of baseball fever! At the end of last year, the city hosted two great tournaments--the World Baseball Championship and the Asian Baseball Championship. Starting on March 7, everyone who misses the excitement of a live, word-class baseball game can come out for the Olympic qualifying games. Eight countries will compete against each other for eight days, but only the champion will advance to the 2008 Olympics.

"Baseball and culture both sell like hot cakes," says Taichung's Mayor Jason Hu. Major games are popular because the players are talented, the games exciting, and a lot of business and tourists are drawn to the city. For the first time in 100 years, the same city will hold two international tournaments at the same time. Because of this good fortune, it is estimated that NT$800 million worth of business will come to Taichung. Moreover, the city's exposure to international media is priceless.

As international games will bring fans from all over the world, Taichung's taking this great opportunity to develop better and more convenient facilities for future visitors. One example of this development is hosting shuttles to and from the games and popular hotels. Everyone in the city government wants the incoming guests to feel welcome while in Taiwan and will also encourage tourists to stick around for a few days after the games to enjoy local food, scenery and cultural activities.

These games are the last chance for the teams to qualify for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Add that to the fact that baseball won't be in the Olympics again until 2012, and you're guaranteed exciting games in which the teams are sure to play their hearts out!
On February 4, the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association held a news conference regarding their final chance to join the 2008 Olympics. Chinese Taipei Coach Hong Yi-zhong announced the names of 37 players that would make up the team; among them are 18 pitchers, four catchers, eight infielders, and seven outfielders. Another 24 players will be chosen at the end of training and warm-up matches. As you can imagine, the entire team is under enormous pressure and is imploring everyone in the area to come on out to the new ballpark and give them a hearty "Go! Go! Go!"