Baseball: Fans allowed to attend games in Taiwan

Baseball fans in Taiwan were allowed back into stadiums on Friday as the government started relaxing some controls implemented to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Up to 1000 spectators are now allowed at ballparks in Taiwan, but they are still barred from bringing in food, and concession stands are still closed.

Fans were required to undergo temperature checks, wear face masks and sit at least one metre apart.

Drumming and chanting could be heard in the Xinzhuang Baseball Stadium in New Taipei, where the Fubon Guardians won 7-6 against the Uni-President Lions.

Taiwan has been relatively successful at controlling the virus, with 440 cases to date and six deaths, thanks to early prevention and detection efforts. 

The island has never gone into total lockdown though the government has promoted social distancing and face masks.

Both the baseball and football seasons got underway in Taiwan last month, but without spectators, providing rare live action for fans at home at a time when the pandemic has shut down most professional sport around the globe.

Baseball is wildly popular in Taiwan, thanks to a strong cultural influence from Japan and the United States. 

To meet global appetite for any sports events at a time when many other countries have been locked down, baseball games in Taiwan have been providing English-language commentary, attracting rare attention from foreign fans and media.

Reuters