Press Release World Port Tournament
Rotterdam, 25 February 2011
Strong and fresh participants scheduled by
WORLD PORT TOURNAMENT BASEBALL 2011
The thirteenth World Port Tournament Baseball will present a strong and alternated field of participants from Thursday 23 June till Sunday 3 July. Besides nations announced before, such as Cuba, Germany and the Netherlands, also Taiwan and Curacao have confirmed to delegate strong teams to complete the schedule of World Port Tournament (WPT). This 11 days event will take place in Neptunus Family Stadium, Rotterdam.
At an earlier stage World Port Tournament organisation could present Cuba, number 1 in official IBAF ranking, as 2011 defender of latest four WPT titles. Cuba promised to participate in Rotterdam with a strong and talented team. Now IBAF number 5 ranking Taiwan agreed terms with WPT organisation for the 2011 edition. Faithful competitor Taiwan has participated in all WPT editions since 1987 and finished second in 1987 behind Havana and in 2007 behind Cuba. Three times they clinched third podium position at closing ceremonies behind Cuba and the Netherlands: 1997, 2003 and 2009. Competing truly, Taiwanese players were also awarded individually, such as the tournament’s best pitcher in 1997 and the best rookie in 1999.
Tournament Director Jacques van Steen: “We are proud in particular with the presency of world power houses Cuba and Taiwan in Rotterdam. We try to host them to the best of our abilities with high attendance in a beautiful stadium accomodation, qualifying World Port Tournament at the top in Europe.”
Ranked behind Cuba and Taiwan, present IBAF number 6 nation the Netherlands will also face newcomer Germany and come back opponent Curacao, which participated in Rotterdam latest in 1991. This year Curacao will return after 20 years. Germany is an emerging baseball nation, as their national team performed well in IBAF World Cup 2009 and CEB European Cup 2010. Germany will debut this summer as World Port Tournament participating team.
Jacques van Steen: “We have listened well to our fans and visitors and consequently decided to invite two fresh participants for this year’s edition, perhaps to surprise at first sight. We hope that our fans will enjoy more variety with spectacular baseball games.”
Tournament schedule
Simultaneously also the 13th World Port Tournament schedule is herewith presented as being definite. Every team meets the other teams twice in a double round robin granting each with 4 home games. Every day will produce an afternoon game at 14.00h and a night game at 19.00h. The top two teams in the ranking after 8 games each will play the finale game on Sunday 3 July, 2011.
Complete schedule has been released on the official website of the tournament: http://www.worldporttournament.nl/