Major League Baseball ready to stage China exhibition in 2008
US baseball executives will visit China this week hoping to conclude a deal to bring Major League Baseball to Beijing for a pre-Olympic exibition next year, according to a league official.
"We are coming because it is vital for Major League Baseball (MLB) to have a long-term relationship with China," said Jim Small, managing director of MLB International's Japan office.
Small said seven executives are expected on the May 30-June 3 trip including league president Bob DuPuy, Boston Red Sox president Larry Lucchino, Pittsburgh Pirates CEO Kevin McClatchy and Sandy Alderson, CEO of the San Diego Padres.
They will visit the new Wukesong stadium, which is nearing completion and will host the baseball tournament at next year's Beijing Olympics.
"Potentially we are going to bring Major League Baseball to the stadium," said Small.
"We would like to do it sometime in 2008, and it could happen as early as next March at the Olympic baseball field at Wukesong.
"They are building a beautiful 12,000-seater stadium there. We are looking at MLB teams or an all-star team - that has not been decided yet."
The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have already been touted as potential match-ups for the pre-Olympic game.
During the trip, the officials will meet with Chinese sports and government officials for talks, check out venues and watch some China Baseball League games.
"MLB is interested in having a long-term plan with China," said Small. "If you look at it strictly from a business perspective, China is crucial for expansion."
The National Basketball Association and National Football League have already made forays into China, where European football clubs have also established links in recent years.
Baseball took root in China more than 100 years ago, well in advance of its development in Japan and Korea. Foreigners formed the Shanghai Baseball Club in 1863 and the game slowly grew in popularity among Chinese youth.
Because of its long history in China, Small said the game already had a base for rapid development and was not seen as a US sport.
"The positive thing for us in the long-term is that China does not see baseball as an American sport," he said. "They view it as an Asian sport played in Korea and Japan - and as such, they naturally want to be challenging to be the best in Asia at the sport."
AFP
(China Daily 05/29/2007 page22)
