The German Baseball and Softball Federation confirmed their participation at the Olympic Qualifier in Taiwan next March. The Team was designated by the IBAF due to the withdrawal of Great Britain. The last chance tournament for Beijing 2008 starts on March 7th and last until March 14th. Germany will compete in a round robin format against Spain, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Chinese Taipei, Korea and South Africa. The best three squads will clinch a berth for the Olympics.
Germany receives financial support by the National Sport and Olympic Association and the government. It is expected that they will hold a training camp in Southern Europe in February. They will travel to Taiwan on March 5. It is not known if there are any test games planned.
According to a press release by the British Baseball Federation, the major reason for the waiver was the inability to raise the £ 40.000, which would be necessary to do the Qualifier. UK Sport had stopped funding the British Baseball programme in 2005. They tried to receive help from the International Olympic Committee and the IBAF, but failed. However the IBAF cited in their statement issues with the player availability as another cause.
