Team Taiwan’s triumphant return from the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s Premier12 championship drew thousands to Taipei for a celebratory parade. Players, coaches, and staff paraded through streets lined with adoring fans waving flags and “Team Taiwan” signs, culminating at the Presidential Office, where President William Lai and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim praised the team.
The historic win has inspired proposals to designate Nov. 24 as National Baseball Day and to redesign the NT$500 bill to honor the team. The day would commemorate Taiwan’s achievement and boost awareness of sports development.
While some lawmakers suggested alternatives like commemorative coins or stamps, others called for further deliberation, citing achievements in other sports. Meanwhile, the Council of Indigenous Peoples pledged NT$200 million to support indigenous athletes, as 14 of the 28 players are indigenous.
Chinese Professional Baseball League commissioner Tsai Chi-chang urged bipartisan support for the sports development budget, emphasizing that legislative funding and collective support were key to the team’s success.
Chunghwa Post announced plans for commemorative stamps to mark the victory. President Lai highlighted Taiwan’s global presence beyond semiconductors, saying, “Taiwan also has baseball.”
This celebration of Team Taiwan reflects a moment of national pride and renewed focus on sports development.
