The Richmond City Council Sister Cities Commission welcomes the Saitama, Japan Junior Baseball Team to Richmond for the 17th Annual Richmond-Saitama International Baseball Exchange. This year marks the 17th anniversary of the Richmond Sister City relationship between Richmond, Virginia and Saitama, Japan.
RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
900 E. Broad Street, Suite 200 - Richmond, Virginia 23219 - www.council.richmondva.gov
VIDEO/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
COUNCIL PUBLIC INFORMATION NEWS ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/FORWARD TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES
Thursday, 29 July 2010
Richmond Sister Cities Commission to host Japanese Little League Baseball team for 17th Annual Richmond-Saitama International Baseball Exchange: Councilman Tyler to throw ceremonial first pitch during first day of baseball games
Events free/open to the public: Entire community invited/encouraged to attend
WHAT The Richmond City Council Sister Cities Commission welcomes the Saitama, Japan Junior Baseball Team to Richmond for the 17th Annual Richmond-Saitama International Baseball Exchange. This year marks the 17th anniversary of the Richmond Sister City relationship between Richmond, Virginia and Saitama, Japan.
The Honorable Bruce W. Tyler, Councilman, Richmond City Council, West End 1st District will throw out the ceremonial first pitch during first day of the 17th Annual Richmond-Saitama International Baseball Exchange games. These public events planned for the visit events are free and open to the public and the entire community is invited and encouraged to attend.
During their stay in Richmond (August 4-11, 2010), the little leaguers will enjoy international cultural exchange and play baseball games with the Richmond Little League. The visiting Saitama team will include 20 players, one City Official, a nurse and four coaches.
The first baseball exchange began in Richmond in 1994 and rotates each year from Richmond to Saitama. The visit, games and friendships fostered during the little leaguers’ visit to Richmond are sterling examples of the partnership and collaboration between Richmond and Saitama, one of Richmond’s six international Sister City relationships.
WHEN/ Public Schedule (August 4-11, 2010)
WHERE
Thursday, August 5, 2010 - Welcome to City Hall
Richmond City Council Chambers, Richmond City Hall, 2nd floor;
900 E. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia
• 9:00 a.m. Richmond City Hall - Welcome Ceremony and Tour
• 10:30 a.m. Tour of Virginia State Capitol
• 12:15 p.m. Lunch at Richmond City Hall Observation Deck
• 1:30 p.m. Depart for Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Byrd Park for Baseball Practice
Friday, August 6, 2010 – Baseball Game
Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Byrd Park Field; 600 S. Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia
• 3:30-5:00 p.m. First Baseball Game
Ceremonial first pitch thrown by The Honorable Bruce W. Tyler, Councilman, Richmond City Council, West End 1st District
Sunday, August 8, 2010 – Second Baseball Game
Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Byrd Park Field; 600 S. Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia
• 1:00-2:30 p.m. Second Baseball Game
Tuesday, August 10, 2010 – Third Baseball Game
Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Byrd Park Field; 600 S. Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia
• 1:00-2:30 p.m. Third Baseball Game
WHO Richmond City Council
Richmond City Council Sister Cities Commission
Richmond Little League
Saitama, Japan Junior Baseball Team
CONTACT For more event information, please contact: Ms. My Lan Tran, Chairman, Richmond Sister Cities Commission, at 804.646.6046 (tel), or my.lan.tran@richmondgov.com (email); or Ms. Catherine E. Nexsen, Chairman, Richmond Sister Cities Commission, Richmond, Virginia-Saitama, Japan, at 804.784.7630 (tel); 355.2780 (h); cnexsen@roomstore.com (email);
or Mr. Mark A. Fleckenstein, Esq., Richmond Little League, at 804. 358-9400.
BACKGROUND
Richmond City Council Sister Cities Commission ______________________________________
The Richmond Sister Cities Commission (RSSC) was created by the Richmond City Council in 1980. The RSSC includes 19 members and operates under guidelines provided by Council and by requirements of Sister Cities International, located in Washington, D. C. Richmond’s first “informal” sister city relationship with its namesake, Richmond upon Thames, England, can be traced back to1930 and indications are that relations predate this period.
Sister City Concept _____________________________________________________________
The concept of sister city relationships was created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. In that year, he created a program, launched from the White House, which called for massive exchanges between Americans and people in other countries. The overall goal was to foster peace, understanding and harmony.
The term “Sister City” is used to express the closeness of the relationships and the fact that these linkages are promoted through commonalities between the communities involved. Formal friendships are established and promote cultural understanding, educational and economic linkages. For example, cities that are linked with Richmond have comparable populations and potential for trade opportunities.
Richmond’s Sister City relationships __________________________________________________
Richmond maintains the following Sister City relationships:
1. Zhengzhou, China
2. Richmond upon Thames, England
3. Saitama City, Japan
4. Uijeongbu, Korea
5. Windhoek, Namibia, Africa
6. Segou, Mali
Richmond Sister City programs in progress _________________________________________
Relationship has included the following:
Richmond upon Thames: Worked with on Virginia’s 2007 celebration, historic marker at Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Libbie Park.
Zhenghou, China: Continued efforts in supporting teacher exchanges, the exchange of art and culture through museums, economic missions to China (currently being conducted by the Governor of the Commonwealth with representation from the City of Richmond). An extensive book collection was presented to the citizens of the City of Richmond from the citizens of Zhengzhou, China. The collection is displayed at the City’s Main Library. Wenyue Xue, Zhengzhou, China, sister city of Richmond, Virginia (International Winner) Poetry 2010 Sister Cities International.
Saitama, Japan: In 2007 architects and builders from Saitama visited Richmond looking at sustainable development and cityscape projects. May 2010 official visit from Mayor Hayato Shimizu and Saitama City Council with Mayor Dwight C. Jones and President Kathy Grazanio with tree planting. June 2010 continuing student, faculty exchange within the Greater Richmond area with Urawa Municipal High School. Annual baseball exchange between communities develops friendships and cultural understanding, which began in 1994.
Windhoek, Namibia: Succeeded in delivery of a Fire Truck to City of Windhoek in July 2003. Relations with Africa have been emphasized at an international conference of US African Cities Conference held in Richmond in July 2004.
Uijeongbu, Korea: Includes relationships with the Richmond Korean community and business exchanges well as educational and cultural programs.
Segou, Mali: A Sister Cities relationship between Richmond, Virginia and Segou, Mali was
Established on October 13, 2009.
- E N D -
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Steven R. Skinner, APR
Council Public Information Manager
Office of the Chief of Staff
RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
Richmond City Hall
900 E. Broad Street, Suite 305
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804.646.6052 (office)
804.335.4054 (mobile)
804.937.1386 (home/mobile)
804.646.5468 (fax)
skinnesr@ci.richmond.va.us (email)
www.council.richmondva.gov(website)
______________________________________
MISSION The mission of Richmond City Council
is to represent citizens in creating and amending
local laws, providing government policy and
oversight, and approving the city budget.
VISION Richmond City Council is committed to
creating a vibrant community that is a great place
to live, work, learn, play, visit and raise a family.
