(LAUSANNE, Switzerland) – The International Baseball Federation (IBAF) released data Thursday, showing the continued expansion of baseball throughout Asia, a geographic area that has long established baseball traditions but is now seeing a surge in interest among the region’s emerging nations as well.
“Asian countries like Chinese Taipei, Japan and Korea have long established baseball as their national sport, and the growth and interest in baseball on all levels continue throughout those countries, even in a down economy,” said IBAF President Dr. Harvey Schiller.
“What is really encouraging is seeing the growth in baseball programs for both boys and girls in countries like China, Pakistan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and India. Exposure to the game of baseball in these countries through broadcasting, clinics and even in new media is steadily raising interest, participation and the level of play to levels never before seen. It once again shows the continued global nature of baseball as a sport for all with a very bright future.”
Some of the most encouraging signs of growth for baseball in Asia include:
China’s announcement last week of a ten-year, fully funded grassroots program to further develop the sport among young people, combined with Major League Baseball’s continued extensive grassroots programs for coaches, players and officials in the country.
A sharp increase in enrollment in programs for girls in Japan and record registration for the country’s third annual Pitch, Hit and Run event, which showcased the individual baseball skills of boys and girls. Additionally, over 430,000 fans attended the Japanese High School Baseball Championship Playoffs in May.
Record television ratings and Web site traffic for Korean baseball following its successful run to the finals of the World Baseball Classic.
The Chinese Taipei government’s announcement earlier this spring to fully fund extended baseball programs for youth and elite teams for boys and girls.
The emergence of Pakistan and Indonesia on the international baseball landscape, with Indonesia winning the Asian Cup qualifier over Pakistan 3-2 in Thailand two weeks ago.
Despite tremendous political turmoil, the improved play and participation of Sri Lanka in the Asian Cup qualifier, in which the team defeated traditional threat Thailand.
The establishment of school programs and coaching certification programs in cities throughout India, Vietnam, Cambodia, and other emerging nations.
The next major international competition in Asia will be the Asian Championships, which will be held in Narita and Sapporo, Japan from 31 July – 4 August. Competing nations will include Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei, China, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.
Additionally, both the Japanese and Korean professional leagues continue to post solid attendance, television and sponsorship numbers despite the downturn in the global economy, all positive signs for a sport which boasts more than one billion fans and will have its World Cup this September in cities across Europe.
For more information, please visit www.ibaf.org and www.2009baseballworldcup.com.
As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.
These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.
Your complete source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only.
PUBLICIDAD
PUBLICIDAD
Últimas Noticias
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons
Beyond the final result, Roland Garros left the feeling that the Italian and the Spaniard will shape the great duel that came to help us through the duel for the end of the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era.
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024
She is the third in her sport and the seventh athlete to achieve it in the same edition; in Santiago 2023 she was the first athlete with disabilities to compete at the Pan American level and won a medal.
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris
Argentinian Rodrigo Isgró received a five-game suspension for an indiscipline in the circuit’s decisive clash that would exclude him until the final or the bronze match; the Federation will seek to make the appeal successful.
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years
The Kenyan received the maximum sanction for irregularities in his biological passport and the Court considered that he was part of a system of “deliberate and sophisticated doping” to improve his performance. He will lose his record and the bronze medal at the Doha World Cup.
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”
The American, a seven-time Olympic champion, referred to the case of the 23 positive controls before the Tokyo Games that were announced a few weeks ago and shook the swimming world. “I think our faith in some of the systems is at an all-time low,” he said.
