Taiwan is among the host countries of this year’s World Baseball Classic. In the next two weeks, Taichung’s Intercontinental Baseball Stadium will see some of the baseball world’s top athletes touching base with Taiwan fans, politicians, and entrepreneurs.
Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) opens a baseball goodie box and laughs right off the bat. Inside is a baseball jersey with his name and the number one.
Lai says he is excited for the first game in the 2023 World Baseball Classic tournament that opened in Taichung on Wednesday. That’s because he truly hit a home run as a baseball fan – he will get to throw the opening pitch at the Taiwan-Panama game. Legendary pitcher Mariano Rivera will throw another one.
Lai is not the only politician swept up by baseball mania. KMT lawmaker Hung Meng-kai (洪孟楷) is also pitching in by wearing a classic 1990’s jersey and promising to buy 50 chicken dinners if Taiwan wins the first game. He says more are coming if the winning streak continues.
Political divides seem to take a back bench as heavy hitters in politics and business come together to root for team Taiwan.
Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) will step up to the plate alongside Vice President Lai. Fans may also catch a glimpse of legislator Tsai Chi-Chang (蔡其昌), Foxconn founder Terry Gou (郭台銘), and entrepreneur John Hsuan (宣明智).
Education Minister Pan Wen-chung (潘文忠) says he supports Taiwan’s baseball fans cheering their national team on with the country’s flags. This comes following confusion over whether ROC flags would be allowed in the stadium. Taiwan’s flag is banned at Olympic events.
Whether it’s for the love of the sport or a free chicken cutlet, in the next two weeks thousands around Taiwan will keep their eyes on the ball.
Tomasz Koper, Rti News