2008 WUC Baseball: Update
June 10th, 2008
Venues
The preparations for the 2008 World University Baseball Championship are well underway. The ballparks in Brno, Olomouc, Blansko and Choceò are ready. There is still some work to be done in the facilities, but these are just above-average adjustments for higher comfort of players and spectators. Portable stands for 1200 spectators will be built at the Brno Stadium. The reconstruction of the Arrows Ostrava ballpark is going on as planned. The new field shall fulfil all standards including 600 seats for spectators and new lighting. Portable tribunes will be built for the purpose of the WUBC.
Online Accreditation
For the 4th World University Baseball Championship an on-line accreditation system will be used. The system brings advantages to both sides – participants and organizers – as the data can be updated continuously. This system allows the participating countries to enter their athletes on-line for individual and nominative entry forms, plus their travel plans. However, the system does not replace the general entry forms, which still have to be sent by mail to the Organizing Committee and to the FISU Secretariat.
Awards
The best hitters of the championship will get the Louisville Silver Slugger. The trophy is three feet tall and bears the engraved name and logo of the championship. The Silver Slugger Award is given annually to the best hitters at each of the fielding positions. The award began in 1980 and is given by Hillerich & Bradsby, the maker of Louisville Slugger bats. The best hitters are selected by the managers and coaches from their respective leagues. Next award will be the Rawlings Gold Glove for the best players. In MLB the award is given annually (since 1957) to the player judged to have the most "superior individual fielding performance" at each position, as voted by the managers and coaches in each league.
Provisional Schedule
July 14th – 16th Arrival of Delegations Prague International Airport July 14th – 15th Unofficial Training, Preparation Games Prague, Brno, Ostrava July 15th Technical Committee Meeting Ostrava July 17th Official Training - Brno, Ostrava General Technical Meeting - Ostrava Opening Ceremony - Ostrava Opening Game - Ostrava July 18th – 22nd Preliminary Games in Groups at 10:00, 15:00 and 20:00 - Brno, Ostrava, Blansko, Olomouc July 23rd Rest day July 24th – 25th Quarter-final Games - Brno, Blansko Consolation Games - Brno, Blansko, Olomouc July 26th Semi-final Games - Brno Consolation Games - Brno, Blansko, Olomouc July 27th Final Game and Third-place Game - Brno Closing Ceremony - Brno July 28th Departure of the teams
