As the opening ceremony of the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS took place at Estadio Panamericano, Guadalajara in Mexico on Saturday, WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari gave his thoughts on what makes the Premier12 such a special fixture in the international baseball calendar.
“As we embark on the third edition of the WBSC Premier12, we continue to witness the phenomenal success of this event, which contributes to making baseball more popular than ever.
“The WBSC Premier12 2024, presented by RAXUS, features the top 12 programmes from the 2023 WBSC/KONAMI Men’s Baseball World Ranking and is set to be one of the most significant international baseball competitions in history. This year’s tournament especially comes at a special moment for the WBSC and global baseball as we move towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
“The WBSC Premier12 is an event that our Member Federations follow closely, celebrating the WBSC/KONAMI World Rankings and all the effort that our Member Federations put into their baseball programmes to earn points, from the youngest generations to the top players. The commitment of the WBSC to grow baseball starts from the beginning with the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup, demonstrating that investing in young athletes is a key way to ensure our sport thrives across generations.
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“The WBSC Premier12 has been so successful that the WBSC Executive Board has approved expanding the format to 16 teams in 2027, providing more opportunities for teams and fans to be involved in the WBSC’s flagship tournament.
“Like the previous editions, the WBSC Premier12 2024, presented by RAXUS, will feature an extremely competitive Opening Round before four teams advance to the Super Round for their chance of Premier12 glory at the iconic Tokyo Dome.
“All 38 games will be played under the WBSC Official Rules of Baseball 2023-2024. As baseball continues to expand its international reach, the level of competition will be even higher and more challenging to win compared to the editions in 2015 and 2019. We can expect thrilling games and exciting surprises from the first pitch to the crowning of the champions on 24 November-
“The Premier12 brand has generated over $100 million in brand exposure and a global broadcast reach of over 300 million households. I am confident that the 2024 WBSC Premier12, thanks to the dedication of the players, teams, hosts and passionate fans worldwide, will surpass these impressive numbers and stand out as one of the biggest international sports events of the year, putting the global spotlight on baseball again.
“In sharing this important vision to elevate baseball on the world stage, I would like to extend my gratitude to our three esteemed hosts: the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association (CTBA), MGO Events in Mexico and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for their pivotal roles in growing the international game.
“I would also like to thank all our broadcast partners and sponsors, as well as all the leagues and clubs worldwide whose players are represented on the 12 teams competing here, and all the WBSC umpires, scorers, and technical commissioners who officiate these important games.
“Let us celebrate this incredible journey and look forward to an unforgettable tournament.”
