On May 1st, the San Francisco Giants baseball team hosted the Colorado Rockies at the Taiwan Culture Day-themed game in San Francisco. The event was sponsored by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau.
This year marked the second time the Giants hosted Taiwan Culture Day. To emphasize the significance of this cultural celebration, two Taiwanese-American athletes were invited to throw the ceremonial first pitch for the game. They were Taichung-born professional golfer and 2021 Olympic bronze medalist, Pan Cheng-Tsung, and Chen Tzu-Jou, a guard for the Golden State Valkyries team with Taiwanese immigrant parents.
Before the game officially began, the Jolly Dance troupe from Northern California performed a traditional Taiwanese Hakka dance, adding a touch of Taiwan’s local culture to the event. The Northern California National Taiwan University Alumni Association also sang the U.S. national anthem, enhancing the exchange and interaction between Taiwan and the U.S.
Director Lai Ming-Chi from the Taiwan Representative Office in San Francisco expressed in a pre-game interview his hope for Taiwan Day activities to unite overseas Taiwanese communities and promote Taiwan’s visibility and tourism to American audiences.
Likewise, Director Lee Szu-Hsien from the Taiwan Tourism Bureau’s San Francisco office highlighted the popularity of sports such as baseball, marathons, and cycling in both Taiwan and the U.S. He believed that through sports exchanges, there could be increased tourism and interaction between the two regions.
Outside Oracle Park in San Francisco, reporters observed a diverse audience with different ethnic backgrounds gathered to watch the game. James Tapscott, an African American married to a Malaysian woman, shared his love for baseball and fond memories of visiting Taiwan multiple times to watch professional baseball games there.
David Wu, born in the U.S. and working in education and high-tech in the Bay Area, spoke of his frequent trips to Taiwan due to his Taiwanese heritage. Each year, he eagerly attends San Francisco Taiwan Day to show his support and excitement for the event.
Daren Handoko and Sabrina Wu, a couple in love, attended Taiwan Day to connect with the local Taiwanese community. Handoko, a finance manager and San Francisco native, introduced his girlfriend Wu, who had recently moved to the city. The event was an opportunity for them to meet more Taiwanese locals and for Handoko to assist Wu in adjusting to life in San Francisco.
Andrew Yin, a traveler from Taipei visiting California, expressed his joy and excitement at coincidentally encountering an event promoting Taiwan during his trip to the San Francisco Bay Area.
In the day’s game, the Rockies defeated the Giants with a score of 4-3.