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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, November 27, 2003

US to help China in baseball development

U.S. Major League Baseball has signed up a deal with China Baseball Association, which is an aid to China's baseball development for at least the next two years, aiming at boosting the sport and preparing China's talent for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.


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U.S. Major League Baseball has signed up a deal with China Baseball Association, which is an aid to China's baseball development for at least the next two years, aiming at boosting the sport and preparing China's talent for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

This agreement calls up setting up a system to allow North America's 30 major league clubs to scout and sign top Chinese talents, media in New York reported Tuesday.

China will automatically keep a 2008 Olympic berth as the Games' host, provided baseball is still in the list of Olympic events.

Major League Baseball will work with China on national team, umpire and coaching development as well as ways to introduce the game to the youth of China with the world's largest population.

"This is a major step forward in the continued global development of Major League Baseball," said major league commissioner Bud Selig.

"This agreement with the China Baseball Association will not only spur interest in baseball in the world's largest nation, but will do much to enhance the development opportunities available totalented Chinese baseball players."

US pro and college coaches will spend a month each year directly with Chinese players and counterparts and bring Chinese coaches to US instructional league programs.

China went 3-3 in the Asian Championships, failing to qualify for the Athens Games. The Chinese were managed by former major league player and manager Jim Lefebvre with ex-major league hurlerBruce Hurst serving as a pitching coach.

Baseball in Japan and Chinese Taipei is very popular, who is qualified for Athens from Asia, joining traditional power Cuba, unlikely Canada and unheralded Dutch, Italian and Greek teams.


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