Team Renteria USA, owned by former major leaguer Edgar Renteria, canceled the Intercontinental Baseball Series due to lack of approval from the Colombian government.
Barranquilla, Colombia — The Intercontinental Baseball SeriesIt has been announced that it will be held from January 26 to February 1 in Barranquilla with the following teams Colombia, Curacao, South Korea, America, Japan and became ninth Cuban baseball playerswas Cancelled want No Colombian government approval.
This was revealed this Tuesday in a statement by Team Renteria USA, owned by former major leaguers Edgar Renteria and his brother Edinson, the organizer of the event.
“The leagues, teams and companies concerned have expressed their full desire for the series to take place, however, the Ministry of Sports, together with the Colombian Olympic Committee, has issued a statement that it is not possible to approve the realization of the tournament,” the document explained.
Another reason the series did not take place was the Colombian government's disapproval of the Cuban baseball team. The ninth is recognized by the Cuban Professional Baseball Federation (Fepcube), but not by the island's authorities.
A statement from Team Renteria USA, however, said it would “work hand-in-hand with affiliated leagues to host the series in another country.”
At the time, the Colombian Sports Ministry pointed out in a statement that the event was not organized by the Colombian Baseball Federation, nor was it part of the events of the World Baseball and Softball Federation, “the only organization recognized by the Olympic Committee. ” International”.
As for Colombia, Febcube “wishes to use the name, representation and national symbols of the Republic of Cuba, without the authorization of the competent body of the country of origin and without the authorization of the Colombian government or the sports authorities of our country. .”
“The use of these symbols constitutes a clear violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Cuba and of sports rights,” the Colombian Sports Ministry added in a statement.
“This event, to date, has not received funding from the sources of the Ministry of Sports, nor the approval of the Colombian Olympic Committee (COC), nor the Colombian Baseball Federation, which reiterates that in order to realize this event, the requirements established in the current Colombian Sports Law must be met.”
