Скачать или смотреть DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: NEW BASEBALL ACADEMY OPENS

(18 Nov 1996) Spanish/Eng/Nat
The Dominican Republic has opened a baseball academy to train promising players from Latin America, Canada and the United States.
Under the auspices of the U-S "Arizona Diamondbacks" and Canada's "Toronto Blue Jays" - "Las Americas Baseball Academy" is aimed at training players for national Olympic teams and the U-S Major Leagues.
Organizers say the Dominican Republic is fertile ground for the development of the world's best baseball players.
"Las Americas Baseball Academy" is now open for business.
The school - a joint effort between the Dominican Republic, the U-S and Canada - was inaugurated in Santo Domingo over the weekend by President Leonel Fernandez.
It will train young baseball players from all over the region whose dream is to make it to the U-S Major Leagues and their national Olympic teams.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"We guarantee that our academy is one of the most modern centres for the formation and education of baseball players.This environment is completely favourable for young people willing to set very high goals for themselves."
SUPER CAPTION: Edmundo Gonzalez, President of Las Americas Baseball Academy
The academy was opened with the auspices of the "Arizona Diamondbacks" and the "Toronto Blue Jays."
Executives from both teams honoured President Fernandez - an avid baseball fan himself - with original jerseys from the teams.
The vice-president of the "Diamondbacks" says most of the world's best baseball players come from this Caribbean nation.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The very first two players that the Diamondbacks signed were from the Dominican Republic. So, I think that shows how important we think the players from this country are. Nobody plays baseball with more passion and with more heart than the players from the Dominican Republic."
SUPER CAPTION: Joe Garagiola Jr., Vice President of Arizona Diamondbacks
The academy has four baseball fields as well as the country's most modern physical training facilities.
After the inauguration, President Fernandez personally greeted players from the Dominican Republic who attended the opening ceremony.
And to warm up the day professional and amateur players took to the field to show their managers they can really play ball.

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