《鳳凰盃》香港國際女子棒球錦標賽2011 - Phoenix Cup 2011

President's Message

Mr. Laurence Lee

President of Hong Kong Baseball Association

Back in the 30s and 40s of last century when I was a child, there was no woman wearing title like "madam president", "female pilot", "female weight lifter" or "female pole jumper". Hence, when I first saw our Hong Kong women baseball team stepped on the baseball diamond for their debut participation in the Women's World Cup in 2006, it brought back my fond memory of eighteen years ago.

In 1993, the first women baseball training course commenced in Hong Kong. It was held on the Ho Man Tin Reservoir soccer field, where the girls had their first contact with baseball on the foot-long grass. They touched everyone there by their sweat-and-tear playing ….. Now they fly over the rainbow with the "Phoenix".

In every issue of "Run", the Association's magazine, on the second page printed our "Mission". Eighteen years ago when we drafted the last sentence of our Mission: "Spring our baseball out of Hong Kong to the World", we thought it was a remote dream that would not happen in the near future. But, today, with surprise, our dream comes true by the women players who were in neglect in the past.

Being an early baseball promoter, a founding member of the HKBA, the president of the Hong Kong Baseball Association and also an ever-lasting lover of baseball, I would like to convey my deepest respect and gratitude to all women baseball players for their endeavor and results achieved.

I wish every baseball player a happy and joyful stay in Hong Kong.

My hearty congratulations on the "Phoenix Cup 2011"!

Laurence Lee

President of Hong Kong Baseball Association

January 2011

Chairman's Message

Mr. Philip Li

Chairman of Hong Kong Baseball Association

I am delighted to see players of a broad range of nationalities coming to play the "Phoenix Cup" Hong Kong International Women's Baseball Tournament 2011. This signifies that baseball is getting more popular in the international women's community.

Baseball has been removed from the event list of Olympic Games after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but I am confident that its departure is temporary that it will return to the Olympics Games in not a long distant future as baseball lovers and promoters round the globe are working very hard to show the world that baseball is a sport good for people's health of all age groups, a sport which can strengthen family bondage and enhance international relations.

Hong Kong is a fore-runner of women's baseball in the world. The Hong Kong women baseball athletes have overcome the difficulties of a shortage in baseball pitches and long working or studying time. They have endeavoued to practise and play baseball every week over the past years without taking a break. Their strong passion and sport spirit are no less than their opposite gender. Nowadays, baseball is a sport for both man and woman, not man only.

The "Phoenix Cup" is now entering into its fourth anniversary. Thanks to the support of the Hong Kong SAR Government and a lot of friends. I would like to thank Asia Insurance for its title sponsorship of the event, Home Affairs Bureau and Leisure and Cultural Services Department for their financial and spiritual support, the Organising Committee of the "Phoenix Cup" and the staff of the Hong Kong Baseball Association for their hard work over the past ten months. Special thanks are appropriate to the volunteer workers, coaches, umpires, scorers and association directors and the women baseball players for their perseverance and efforts in keeping the ball of "Phoenix Cup" rolling.

Lastly, I wish all players would enjoy all the matches they are going to play and have a wonderful time in Hong Kong during their stay.

Philip Li

Chairman of Hong Kong Baseball Association

January 2011

Date	Tournament Title	Participating Teams	Venue
2008.02.14~17	"Oregon Scientific Phoenix Cup" Hong Kong International Women’s Baseball Tournament 2008	Australia - Aussie Hearts (2nd Runner-up) Hong Kong - Allies Japan - Far East Bloomers (Champion) Korea - Sunrise North America - WBL North Stars (1st Runner-up) Taiwan – Taipei Vanguard	Sai Tso Wan Baseball Field
2009.02.14~17	"Phoenix Cup 2009" Hong Kong International Women’s Baseball Tournament	Australia - Aussie Hearts Hong Kong - Allies Japan - Far East Bloomers (Champion) Korea - TOP North America - North American Liberty Belles (1st Runner-up) Taiwan – Kapok Flowers (2nd Runner-up)	Sai Tso Wan Baseball Field
2010.02.06~09	"Phoenix Cup 2010" Hong Kong International Women’s Baseball Tournament	Australia - Aussie Hearts (Champion) Hong Kong - Allies (2nd Runner-up) Japan - Far East Bloomers (1st Runner-up) Korea - NineVics Korea - TOP North America & Shenzhen - North American Liberty Belles Shenzhen Long Zhu	Sai Tso Wan Baseball Field, Lion Rock Park Baseball Field