Taiwan to host 2027 Baseball World 12, 2028 Olympic qualifiers

Taiwan has secured the hosting rights for the 2027 Baseball World 12 and the 2028 Olympic qualifiers, a move expected to reignite national passion for baseball. The nation aims to leverage these events to return to the Olympic Games in 2028.

While the Olympics were once the pinnacle of the sport, veteran coach Yeh Chih-Chun suggests the landscape has shifted. He believes the World Baseball Classic might now offer players more meaning, providing a platform to compete against the world's best.

"In our era, the Olympics were the highest stage," Yeh explained. "But like the FIFA World Cup, if you ask which is stronger, the World Cup or the Olympics, you'd likely choose the World Cup. So now, comparing the Olympics and the Classic, it used to be the highest, but I don't know if it still is."

“

In our era, the Olympics were the highest stage. But like the FIFA World Cup, if you ask which is stronger, the World Cup or the Olympics, you'd likely choose the World Cup. So now, comparing the Olympics and the Classic, it used to be the highest, but I don't know if it still is.

Taiwan's national baseball team last participated in the Olympics at the 2008 Beijing Games. Baseball's status as a discretionary sport and the team's withdrawal from qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Games due to pandemic-related challenges meant their Olympic streak ended. The decision to host the upcoming qualifiers signals a strong ambition to return to the Olympic stage.

Yeh, who played in the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympics, sees hosting these tournaments as a positive development for Taiwanese baseball. He humorously noted that the public's intense interest in international games, whether the team performs well or poorly, ultimately benefits the sport. "I think it helps, because Taiwan really loves international competitions. If they play well, people will love it more; if they play poorly, it will save baseball. So, playing well or poorly is beneficial for Taiwanese baseball."

“

I think it helps, because Taiwan really loves international competitions. If they play well, people will love it more; if they play poorly, it will save baseball. So, playing well or poorly is beneficial for Taiwanese baseball.