TAIPEI CITY -- The world governing body of baseball and softball, the WBSC, has announced that the world-famous PEANUTS comic strip icon, Snoopy, will be the official Global Ambassador of the U12 Baseball World Cup 2015, being staged from 24 July - 2 August in Tainan, Chinese Taipei.
WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said Snoopy's role with the 2015 U12 Baseball World Cup, the pinnacle platform that is the highest level of competition for 12-year-olds, can help to raise awareness and interest in sport amongst more young people, especially the 'digital generation'.
The announcement was made at Daan Forest Park in Taipei City, alongside Tainan Mayor Lai Ching-Te, Taiwan Ministry of Education Deputy Director of Sports Administration Peng Tai-Ling and Chinese Taipei Baseball Association (CTBA) Honorary President Tom Peng, and was followed by a U12 Baseball World Cup 'live' dance performance by the life-sized Snoopy and Charlie Brown.
"Baseball and softball support the IOC's Agenda 2020 under President Thomas Bach, and the focus on youth and sport in society," Fraccari said. "Snoopy is embraced by many different cultures and societies globally, and Snoopy's involvement and promotion of the U12 Baseball World Cup can help produce a synergy that we hope can connect more young people with sport and the lasting teachings of sport -- on and off the sports field."
As part of his role as Global Ambassador of the WBSC U12 Baseball World Cup, Snoopy will be incorporated into the official look and logo of baseball's 2015 U12 world championship, which will showcase the elite 12-year-old baseball players in the world playing for their National Teams.
Venues in Tainan, where the U12 World Cup will be hosted by the CTBA and City of Tainan through 2019, will have designated areas with signage featuring Snoopy and the rest of the PEANUTS Gang in iconic poses, playing baseball, for fans to visit and engage with as part of the attractions and to share selfies via social media from the 2015 WBSC U12 Baseball World Cup III.
In addition, Snoopy, who was both a player and manager of the PEANUTS comic strip baseball team, will visit the venues during U12 World Cup competition to interact with fans and deliver an unforgettable in-stadium experience in Tainan.
"Global events that attract and put the focus on the next generation of athletes and fans to grow our sport around the world is a top priority for the WBSC and all our sport's stakeholders, particularly as we strive to earn a place for baseball and softball in the Olympic Games," WBSC President Fraccari said. "Snoopy joining our team as the Global Ambassador for the 2015 U12 Baseball World Cup is in perfect alignment with the mission, values and objectives of the WBSC and our sport.
The U12 Baseball World Cup, now in its third edition, is one of several junior baseball and softball world championships in the portfolio of events conducted by the WBSC, which is hoping for the possible inclusion of baseball and softball at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
WBSC Baseball Marketing Director Masaru Yokoo said: "The WBSC is thrilled to have such an instantly recognisable icon, like Snoopy, on board as the Official Global Ambassador to shine the spotlight on the 2015 U12 Baseball World Cup. Snoopy and the entire PEANUTS Gang have a timeless and universal connection to people of all ages and to the sport of baseball, and that's why we are extremely confident that the PEANUTS' presence will help create an exciting atmosphere in Tainan for the teams and fans, and will help elevate brand recognition and the global appeal of the WBSC U12 Baseball World going forward."
U12 Baseball World Cup Groups and Schedule Revealed
The groups and competitions schedule for the WBSC U12 Baseball World Cup III were also revealed by the WBSC.
Group A Group B
No. 3 Cuba No. 1 Japan
No. 4 Chinese Taipei No. 2 USA
No. 8 South Korea No. 12 Mexico
No. 10 Venezuela No. 14 Australia
No. 15 Brazil No. 16 Nicaragua
No. 32 Russia No. 27 France
It is the first time in history that the top four nations in the world -- Japan, USA, Cuba and Chinese Taipei -- are featured together at the U12 World Cup. The elite world championship will also feature ten of the top 16 ranked nations in the world, setting the stage for a truly electrifying tournament.
Fifty contests will be scheduled to determine the 2015 U12 World Champions, starting with a group round robin. (See Official U12 World Cup Schedule)
Days 1 - 5 will see 30 games of round robin action, followed by a rest day. Nations will be battling to finish among the top three in their respective groups to advance into the "Super Round Robin".
Days 7, 8 and 9 will feature the top three finishers from Group A colliding with the top three finishers from Group B in the elite nine-game Super Round Robin. The Super Round Robin is a continuation of the opening round-robin, as head-to-head matches and win/loss records against Super Group members carry over from the opening round robin.
On Day 10, the two Super Group nations with the best overall records will play in the gold medal finale on Sunday, 2 August, while the third- and fourth-place nations will play for bronze.
The nations not advancing to the Super Round Robin will be grouped together to battle for 7th - 12th place in the Consolation Round Robin.
The biannual U12 Baseball World Cup is the only international baseball tournament in this age group to feature National Teams, which are exclusive to WBSC and its Members.
The United States will be heading to Tainan as the defending U12 World Champions, having dethroned the 2011 U12 World Cup Champions Chinese Taipei in 2013.
As an official world championship event, the results of the U12 World Cup have impact on baseball's official world rankings. The 2015 U12 Baseball World Cup will begin the 4-year world rankings cycle that will eventually determine the qualified nations for the 2019 Premier 12™, a flagship event that could potentially serve as an Olympic qualifier, if baseball and softball are put forward and added to the 2020 Tokyo Games.
The WBSC has a full list of official events on the calendar in 2015, including the Men's Softball World Championship and Pan American Games in Canada, the U12 Baseball World Cup, the U19 Women's Softball World Championship in Oklahoma City, USA, the U18 Men's Baseball World Cup at historic Koshien Stadium in Japan, and the inaugural Premier 12™, co-hosted by Japan and Chinese Taipei.
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