On Saturday, June 15, Nationals Park buzzed with the spirit of international camaraderie and shared love for baseball. The inaugural“Pre Taiwan Day”in D.C. celebration marked a significant milestone in Taiwan-U.S. relations.
Ambassador Alexander Yui of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) took the mound to throw the first pitch at the Washington Nationals' game against the Miami Marlins. This symbolic act served as a reminder of the cultural values that Taiwan and America share, with baseball being a mutual favorite pastime.
The Millennial Global Youth (MGY) Foundation hosted the event, extending a warm welcome to the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia) community. Their goal was to sell over 300 tickets and establish Taiwan Day as an annual event at Nationals Park. The response was overwhelming, with more than 500 tickets sold and jerseys quickly selling out, reflecting the community’s enthusiastic support.
This Taiwan Day event acted as a "proof of concept" game. If the team determines its viability based on ticket sales, Taiwan Day will become an official event in the coming seasons, with the first official target date set for 2025.
MGY, permitted by the Washington Nationals (unaffiliated), went the extra mile by designing and printing souvenir jerseys to create an authentic Taiwan Day experience. While this event may seem comparatively modest compared to Taiwan/Taiwan Heritage Days with other teams, it serves a much larger purpose.
The 2024 Pre Taiwan Day showcases the strength, vibrancy, and dedication of the Taiwanese Community in the DMV. It serves as a launchpad to establish an annual Taiwan Day in Washington, D.C.
