The sports authority of Cuba said that the 2007 baseball championship in Cuba marks the start of their preparatory work toward participating in the Beijing Olympic Games.

The sports authority of Cuba said that the 2007 baseball championship in Cuba marks the start of their preparatory work toward participating in the Beijing Olympic Games.

From December 2, 2007 through April 25, 2008 Cuba will host a baseball championship in Santiago, the country's second largest city. After the championship a new Cuban baseball team will be organized in anticipation of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The Cuban sports authority is pleased with Cuba's baseball development, and believes that the Cuban team has the ability to get the gold in baseball in 2008.

In 1992 baseball became an official Olympic event. The Cuban team won the finals at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 and the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. During the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, the Cuban team received a silver medal, giving the gold to the Americans after a 0-4 match.

(China.org.cn by Wu Huanshu, November 30, 2007)