Taipei and Taichung to showcase baseball passion as they host XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup
For the first time in 10 years (and fourth in the tournament's history), the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup returns to Taiwan. The two host cities - Taipei City and Taichung - also have plenty of WBSC tournament pedigree and will host the event jointly, as they did for the 2022 U-23 Baseball World Cup. Taichung hosted the XXV U-18 Baseball World Cup in 2013 while Taipei City hosted the XXI U-18 Baseball World Cup in 2004. The Chinese Taipei Baseball Association (CTBA) also earned hosting rights for the U-18 Baseball World Cup in 1999 (Kaohsiung).
Taipei City, the most populated metropolis of Taiwan, and with close to 2.5 million people (6.9 million in greater metro Taipei) on land of 270 square kilometres, will host the opening game between Chinese Taipei and Australia, Group B, the Super Round, and the medal games, third-place and World Championship final.
As the island's economic, political, and cultural centre, Taipei City is no stranger to WBSC events. In addition to last year's WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup, Taipei hosted the inaugural WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup in 2013 and the historically claimed Baseball World Cup 2001, the first to feature professional players. Taipei City was also the host of the Summer Universiade in 2017, and Deaflympics in 2009.
As much as baseball is regarded as the king of sports on the island, the relationship between Taipei citizens and baseball was further strengthened when the Chinese Professional Baseball League opened in 1990 with a game between Uni-President Lions and Brother Elephants.
As the biggest Stadium in Taiwan at the time, with a capacity of 16,000, Taipei Municipal Baseball Stadium became the most popular venue to watch the games. The Stadium, which opened in 1959, became one of the essential baseball icons for the generations until its demolition in 2000 to make way for the new construction of the current Taipei Arena.
In 2000 a new baseball stadium in the upper north high-end residential area of Taipei called Tianmu Baseball Stadium became the new symbol of baseball in Taipei City. The Stadium was the venue of the Baseball World Cup in 2001.
Every baseball fan in Taiwan would remember the home runs belted by Chinese Taipei heroic slugger Chin-Feng Chen against Japan that helped Chinese Taipei secure a bronze medal.
Two decades later, Chen was inducted into the Taiwan Baseball Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2022. Tianmu Stadium has since become the heart and soul of Taipei Baseball and the backdrop of countless tournaments and domestic and international professional games.
In addition to its rich history with sport, Taipei City is well known for its cultural display, such as the National Palace Museum, Longshan Temple and Dihua Street among other historical attractions.
Taipei City is also a hub for Chinese and Asian cuisines, with various selections throughout the city. Several world-renowned restaurants in the Taipei 101 building, the tallest structure on the island, and its vicinity, also attract international critics for their unique and brilliant tastes.
One hundred eighty kilometres south of Taipei City is another host city of this year’s WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup: Taichung City. Since the inauguration of Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in 2006, Taichung City has arguably become one of the most welcoming cities for international baseball events worldwide.
In addition to the 2006 (its inaugural event) and 2010 Intercontinental Cups, the stadium has hosted both editions of the WBSC Premier12 and has seen several editions of Baseball World Cups, Asian Baseball Championships, Final Olympic Qualifiers, World Baseball Classics, and Asia Series. In 2013 Taichung became the first city honoured as World Baseball City, a title bestowed by the International Baseball Federation.
In 2007, Chin-Feng Chen also had his mark inked at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium as he launched a 2-run homerun against Japan’s Yu Darvish during the Asian Baseball Championship.
One of the reasons Taichung City became one of the most significant metropolitan areas in Taiwan is its central location on the island. Over 2 million residents here enjoy the year-round stable weather, convenient transportation to its northern and southern neighbouring cities, ever-booming domestic and international tourism, and prosperous cultural establishments such as museums of fine arts, natural science, Japanese colonial baroque architecture, and professional sports.
In 2021, Taichung City was voted the Most Livable City in Taiwan as it scored highest among all three major categories in the survey: Most Favorite City to Live in, Most Desired City to Live after Retirement, and the Happiest City to live in. Taipei scored second highest in all three categories in the survey.
While Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium will serve as the venue for the Opening Round, Taichung Stadium will be used as the venue for the Placement Round games of this year’s WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup. Taichung Stadium was built in 1935 and is the second oldest baseball stadium in Taiwan currently still in use, only behind the Tainan Municipal Baseball Stadium, home of the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions of CPBL, which opened in 1931.
