【Project Activities】

① International cultural exchange among three countries (Korea, Taiwan, and Japan participated, with over 150 children engaging in Teeball as part of an Asian international cultural exchange project).

② Cross-cultural exchange (Officials, parents, and other adults, in addition to children, interacted through cultural introductions such as Taekwondo and Soran Bushi).

【Project Background】

Since around 1985, there have been exchanges involving elementary school rubber-ball baseball and softball. To provide a platform for exchange to many children, Teeball exchanges were introduced around 2015.

【Project Objective】

① To foster the healthy development of elementary school students through Teeball.

② To deepen understanding of foreign countries through cross-cultural experiences.

【Project Area】

Cultural and international exchange through sports

【Methods】

Athlete Dispatch and Invitation

【Outcomes】

Participants learned the importance of winning and cooperating with teammates through Teeball. Furthermore, cross-cultural exchanges before and after the tournament deepened their understanding of the cultures of other countries.

【Voices from Participants and Partners】

“It was very enjoyable / I hope this initiative continues.””It was a good experience that children from different countries were divided into mixed teams and played friendly matches.”

【Challenges and Lessons Learned】

Due to the declining birthrate and the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of children participating in sports has decreased, leading to an overall reduction in participants. For the continuous operation of the tournament, grassroots Teeball activities are necessary. Securing funding is also essential to continue holding the tournament.

【URL】

http://www.aichi-teeball.com/