向体育致敬——世界棒球经典赛

　　
　　The 1st Baseball Classic 届世界棒球经典赛
　　The first World Baseball Classic finished with the following numbers for the entire tournament:
　　
　　
　　• 737,112 spectators
　　• 5,354 news media
　　• 39 games
　　• 18 days
　　• 16 teams
　　• 9 languages
　　• 7 venues
　　• 3 rounds
　　• 1 champion (Japan)
　　
　　Some Q&A on WBC 世界棒球经典赛相关问答
　　Q: Why conduct the World Baseball Classic?
　　A: The World Baseball Classic was created to provide a platform that will increase worldwide exposure of the game of baseball and further promote grassroots development in traditional and non-traditional baseball nations. The tournament's primary objectives are to increase global interest and introduce new fans and players to the game. The World Baseball Classic acknowledges and pays tribute to the tremendous growth and internationalization of the game.
　　
　　Q: Which leagues and/or organizations have been involved with establishing the World Baseball Classic?
　　A: Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) have joined together to establish the World Baseball Classic. The tournament, sanctioned by the International BAseball Federation (IBAF), will be conducted jointly by MLB and the MLBPA in cooperation with Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), their respective players associations and other professional leagues from around the world.
　　
　　Q: What is World Baseball Classic, Inc.?
　　A: World Baseball Classic, Inc., is the organizing entity of the tournament, which is jointly governed by MLB and the MLBPA. The entity was established to oversee and administer all transactions and operations involving the tournament.
　　
　　Q: Who is competing in the World Baseball Classic?
　　A: The tournament is divided into four pools of four teams each. Pool A consists of China, Chinese Taipei, Korea, and Japan. Pool B is the United States, Canada, Mexico, and South Africa. Pool C contains Cuba, the Netherlands, Panama, and Puerto Rico. Pool D is made up of Venezuela, Italy, the Dominican Republic, and Australia. Each team plays with a 30-man active roster, which can be adjusted between rounds.
　　
　　Q: What are the playing rules for the World Baseball Classic?
　　A: The tournament will be played under the official rules of Major League Baseball with modifications to accommodate the format of the tournament (e.g. pitch count limitations, mercy rule). The designated hitter will be used in tournament play.
　　
　　Q: How many countries have National Baseball Federations?
　　A: There are currently 122 National Baseball Federations around the world. This number represents an increase of more than 100% from 1990 when only 60 federations existed.
　　
　　Key words
　　salute n. 致敬；问候
　　tournament n. 锦标赛；联赛
　　Major League Baseball （美国）职业棒球大联盟
　　minor-league n.（美国）小职业球队联盟
　　
　　championship n. 锦标赛
　　trophy n. 奖品；战利品
　　runner-up n. 亚军；第二名
　　spectator n. 观众
　　sanction v. 批准；认可
　　pool n. 组合
　　roster n. 花名册；名单
　　pitch n. 投球