Chisinau, November 2 (Infotag). Next year Moldova is set to host for the first time in its history a European Championship for children under 12, Chairman of Moldova’s Baseball Association Roman Ostapenko confirmed at a news conference in Infotag.

In connection with the upcoming event, head of the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) Aldo Notari paid a visit to Chisinau during which he inspected facilities in Cojusna where the championship is going to be held and met with Prime Minister Vasily Tarlev and Chairman of Moldova’s Olympic Committee Nicolai Zhuravski. The agenda of Notari’s visit also included a trip to Transnistria.

Given the opportunity Notari said, “the Moldovan government should pay more attention to popularization of baseball in this country, especially now that baseball is included in Olympic program.”

“Although baseball is not as popular as football these days – he said – it has already been practiced in 38 countries. Moldova has all the necessary environment (i.e. facilities and equipment) to host this championship successfully.”

Baseball arrived in Moldova in 1988; the national baseball association was founded in 1993.