The Japanese’s Sport For Monday’s programme to promote baseball and other sporting events in 100 countries as part of preparations for the 2020’s Tokyo Summer Olympic Games was launched in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.
At least six teams from different regions competed in the National Baseball Championship at Azania Secondary School Ground.
Speaking during the launching, Japanese Ambassador to Tanzania, Masaki Okada said he believes that Tanzania will be among African countries, which will be among other teams that will take part in the Tokyo Olympic Games, necessitating on discipline and determination among players.He said since Japan will host the 2020’s Olympic Games, his country has decided to support sports in respective countries as it’s support for the preparations.
Okada said baseball is one of the most Japanese favourite sporting events and through the global programme his country intends to promote the sport in 100 countries and to make sure that it’s re-included in the Olympics and he believes there is ample time for countries to prepare.
Baseball was among competitive sporting events in the 2008 Olympic Games held in Beijing, China, but was excluded from the list of sports by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Takashiro Waku, who is the Director of Japanese Sports Council, said that baseball, like any other sporting events, has power to promote peace and change the society to good behaviour.
He also said that the programme, engineered by the Japanese government, through the Japan Sports Council will cement continued good relationship between his country and Tanzania.
Speaking on behalf of the Deputy Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Juma Nkamia, who was to be the chief guest, the Director of Sports, Leonard Thadeo hailed the Japanese move to promote sports through the programme and urged the baseball officials in the country to maintain the good relationship for the sport’s development.
“You have to keep the ball rolling in promoting the sport by making sure that through the programme, Tanzania manages to take part in the international competition,” said Thadeo.
While welcoming the chief guest, the Chairman of the Tanzania Baseball/Softball Association, Ahmed Makata thanked the Japanese Sports Council for the continued support.
He said after the completion of the two-day event at Azania Secondary School Ground, his association will select the national team that will represent Tanzania in the Africa Under -17 Championship to be held in Meru, Kenya from December 15 to 20 this year.
The teams taking part in the National Championship are secondary schools of Kilimanjaro (Sanya Juu), Ruvuma’s Londoni, Kibasila of Temeke, St. Mary’s of Mwanza, hosts Azania and Zanzibar’s Mwanakwerekwe, who are taking part as guest players.