Houston Community News >> Taiwan to Host 2007 World Baseball Cup
11/20/2006-- Taiwan will host
the 37th World Cup baseball games next year, the Central News Agency said
yesterday, quoting Tom Peng (彭誠浩), acting president of the International
Baseball Federation (IBAF).
Peng made the announcement on Sunday night during the closing ceremony of the
16th Intercontinental Cup baseball tournament at the Intercontinental Stadium in
Taichung.
Cuba defended its title by beating the Netherlands 6-3 in the championship game
of the eight-team tournament.
Taiwan took third place by shutting out Japan 4-0.
Peng said that Taichung's success in hosting the Intercontinental Cup and
Taichung Mayor Jason Hu's (胡志強) strong bid to host the World Cup had led the
IBAF to decide that the 37th World Cup tournament next November should be held
in Taichung.
"So we will meet here again next November," Peng told 15,000 spectators at
Intercontinental Stadium, which was built for the 16th Intercontinental Cup
tournament.
Peng is president of the Chinese-Taipei Baseball Association.
The World Cup baseball tournament, called the Baseball World Cup (BWC) by IBAF,
was first held in Britain in 1938, drawing only two teams.
Over the years, the Baseball World Cup has developed into the biggest baseball
tournament in the world. The 36th Baseball World Cup in 2005 attracted 18 teams.
Cuba has dominated the Baseball World Cup, winning 25 of 36 tournaments
including the last nine events.
Taiwan hosted the Baseball World Cup in 2001.
However, the Baseball World Cup is now being challenged by the World Baseball
Classic, which was launched last March by US-based Major League Baseball to
raise the international profile of professional baseball. The Classic will be
held every four years.
(Contributed by Taipei Times)