On August 4th, Hsinchu County Magistrate Chiu Ching-chun led a delegation to Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan for intercity exchange. The first stop on the itinerary was the baseball ground in Miyakonojo City Athletic Park, where Zhongshan Elementary School Baseball Team from Hsinchu County was playing against Miyazaki Baseball Team. In addition to Zhongshan Elementary School Baseball Team, Hsinchu County’s Guanxi Junior High School Baseball Team had also played a few games in Miyazaki Prefecture since the previous day.
Magistrate Chiu got interested in the great development of baseball and other sports in Miyazaki Prefecture. Besides, he paid a lot of attention to its multi-function athletic facilities, which could serve as role models for the future integration of the athletic facilities in Hsinchu County. Hoshihara Toru, the Speaker of Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly and the President of Miyakonojo City Junior Baseball Association, emphasized that this exchange gave the players a chance to learn from each other and expand their global perspective.
Each year, 5 to 6 baseball games between Hsinchu County and Miyazaki Prefecture baseball teams will be arranged. During summer vacations, players from Hsinchu County go to Miyazaki Prefecture, while during winter vacations, players from Miyazaki Prefecture come to Hsinchu County. This sport exchange has entered its 7th year. To have lasting and more frequent exchanges, Hsinchu County Government had signed an agreement with Miyazaki Prefecture to become sister cities in February this year.