Konami sponsoring global baseball tournament

Konami has announced that it will be an official global sponsor for the 2006 World Baseball Classic. The company will also sponsor the team representing Japan in the championship.

The 2006 World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament where top baseball players, including Major League Baseball players and professionals from Japan's pro league, from all over the world complete in a World Cup-style tournament. Participating nations and regions include China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea, USA, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama, Netherlands, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Australia, and Italy. The tournament begins in March, one month before the beginning of the US Major League Baseball season.

"It is with great pleasure that we welcome Konami as an official global partner of the inaugural World Baseball Classic. Konami has always been a strong supporter of baseball and it is only fitting that they be part of this historic global event," said Paul Archey, senior vice president, international business, Major League Baseball.

Konami, which produces the Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu baseball games in Japan, has not announced if it will release any games based on the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Take-Two Interactive holds the exclusive third-party rights to Major League Baseball-branded games.