Baseball5 gives hope to Refugee Children at Azraq Camp in Jordan
03/05/2024 2 Minute Read

Baseball5 gives hope to Refugee Children at Azraq Camp in Jordan

The second Hope and Dreams Sports Festival gave WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari a chance to witness progress: "It is amazing to see what Baseball5 can do to help the children enjoy their lives in difficult circumstances." A baseball/softball governing body was also affiliated to the Jordan Olympic Committee.

The second edition of the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) Hope and Dreams Sports Festival took place in Jordan from 1 to 3 May.

"The second edition of the Hope and Dreams Sports Festival demonstrated our commitment to empowering refugees and inspiring hopes and dreams," commented Chungwon Choue, THF Chairman and World Taekwondo President. "We believe that sport can play an important role in promoting peace."

20240105 Baseball5 Hope and Dreams Festival

He added: "At the Olympic Refuge Foundation Board Meeting a few days ago, I heard that the global population of refugees and displaced persons could reach 130 million by the end of this year. It is a shocking and sad figure. I hope that projects such as the Hope and Dreams Sports Festival could help alleviate the suffering of the children and youth and offer them a pathway to lead fulfilling lives."

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) runs a very successful Baseball5 project at the Azraq Refugee Camp. Head coach Amjad Alatoom celebrated the first anniversary of the Azraq Baseball5 Refugee project on Monday, 1 January 2024. The second edition of the Open Sports Day recently involved 90 girls and boys in Baseball5 activity at the Azraq Camp.

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari, Chungwon Choue, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Head of Field Office for the Azraq Camp Sondos El Nour and representatives from the Badminton World Federation (BWF), THF Board, Jordan Taekwondo Federation, Taishan Sports and Korean Embassy in Jordan attended Baseball5, Taekwondo, Badminton and Basketball demonstrations during a visit to the Araq and Zaatari Refugee Camps.

"I am thrilled to be back in the Azraq Camp again for the second Hope and Dreams Sports Festival, this time to see more children playing Baseball5. Seeing what our sport can do to help children enjoy their lives in difficult circumstances is amazing. I am also proud to be a part of this meaningful programme with my good friend, Dr. Chungwon Choue," commented Fraccari.

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Taishan Sports donated an acre of artificial grass and mats, that can be used daily, to the Azraq Camp.

WBSC President Fraccari also welcomed the news that a Baseball/Softball governing body was affiliated with the Jordan Olympic Committee.

President Fraccari met the Executive Board to discuss the next steps to have Jordan join the WBSC as a new member.

Prince Feisal Al Hussein, a member of the International Olympic Committee Executive Board and the President of the Jordan Olympic Committee (JOC), led the WBSC delegation to visit the JOC training facility.