by Pim van Nes
The Italian Federation FIBS announced on Monday 18 venues for the 48 Baseball World Cup games to be played in Italy in September as part of the European event, which aims at the return of baseball in the Olympic family. Four of the 18 are reputed Italian Baseball League clubs in Italy: Parma, Bologna, Grosseto and Nettuno. Definite now is also the participation of the eighth European country, since next to Italy, Sweden, Spain, Holland, Germany, Czech Republic and Russia, also the mini-republic of San Marino will have a share in the World Cup games. Remarkable is the absence of two big cities, top listed by the Italian federation last year: Milan and Turin.
Among the well known clubs in Italy, Rimini appears to be absent in the World Cup tournament. On the other hand less known places have been approved already for September, such as the southern village of Matino and Messina on the isle of Sicily. Northern sites on the FIBS listing are Novara, Bollate, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Verona and Vicenza and in central Italy international baseball is brought to Godo, Macerata, Firenze and Chieti, whilst Italian federation is still discussing the final game on September 27 with the administration of its capital Rome. Investments for a total amount of 15 million Euros are still being spent for required improvements to the ballparks in Italy in order to meet international standards.
Pim van Nes
Baseball writer for
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