Dear friends of sportive nature,
Welcome to our European Championship of Juniors U18 in Ostrava. We are pleased to host the best European teams in collaboration with Arrows Ostrava. I am sure that we are to see many of future representatives and professionals in this category.
Now let me evaluate a little how much baseball has developed during past years in Ostrava. The ball park had just been opening with the first European Junior Championship in 1998, built in record-breaking time and terrible weather conditions. However, everything went well and since then, the whole area has come through some reconstructions: a new field has been built, soon lit by new lighting. It hosted several European Championships, Club Cups and other events, the most important ones being World University Championship and European Senior Championship. Plus, Ostrava’s arrows team preserves its playing standard at the top of our Extraleague.
In the year of 2015 we are coming to a familiar place where everything is perfectly organised. That is the best proof of quality.
On this occasion I give my thanks to Arrows Ostrava for all the past event and I am convinced that this one shall as well become one of the best ever hosted here.
I thank the city of Ostrava, the Moravian-Silesian region, the District of Poruba and other sponsors for their support.
During this year‘s European Championship, we will get to see a confrontation of countries which are the best in European youth baseball. Keeping hopes for a medal in their minds, they have arrived to become champions. However, not everyone can win, so let the best ones succeed.
I am also glad that the European Championship has other purposes as well:
- two matches are to be played in Polish city of Rybnik which confirms the collaboration of these close EU countries
- I am pleased that we are going to meet Junior Softball Cup in the area, which is an ideal signal of our sports’ Olympic future
- we show that we certainly do not lack confidence, hosting the event at the same time with Colours of Ostrava, a top cultural event of our country
The CzechRepublic team aims to at least remain at the second place from year 2013. Finally, let me then, as the president of Czech Baseball Association, to wish luck and good result to our representatives.
To all, I wish the best experiences and a pleasant stay.
Petr Ditrich
President of Czech Baseball Association