Korean baseball team KT Wiz will spend the summer in Geelong after a Memorandum of Understanding was recently signed between the City of Greater Geelong, local baseball clubs and the Melbourne Aces.
Geelong was chosen from a range of global cities to be the host of KT Wiz's summer training camp, which will provide lasting benefits for local baseball and the local economy.
The team, which competes in the prestigious Korean Baseball Organisation (KBO) premier league, will bring more than 80 guests including players, coaches, training staff, and executives to the region during their stay.
As part of the MoU, KT Wiz will invest in significant upgrades at the Geelong Baseball Centre in Waurn Ponds.
Baseball has long been a popular sport in the Greater Geelong region for participants of all ages and local clubs will benefit from the deal on and off the pitch.
The camp will run for six weeks, from mid-January to late February 2025.
The new deal further strengthens the ties between Geelong and Korea, with the City having signed a Memorandum Of Understanding with Changwon City in 2022 to formalise an agreement to collaborate on trade, education, and cultural exchanges to promote investment and employment opportunities for both cities.
City of Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM
I am excited to welcome KT Wiz to Geelong for their summer camp and look forward to working with them, the Melbourne Aces and local baseball clubs during the team's stay here.Hosting the KT Wiz camp here in Geelong will not only offer a unique opportunity to showcase Geelong on the international stage but it also promises to bring significant economic benefits to the region.
The camp will also drive improvements to our local baseball facilities, benefiting the community long after the camp concludes.
Consul-General of the Republic of Korea, Mr Changhoon Yi
It is great to hear that the KT Wiz Korean pro-league team chose Geelong Baseball Centre as their spring camp for the first time, and local baseball industry entities tried hard to welcome them to Geelong.Korea and Victoria have been strengthening Sports Diplomacy since the Geelong Korea baseball team set off. I am sure the Team will enjoy their training session in Geelong, a beautiful and well-known sports city. Also, I strongly wish this relationship will last long.
Melbourne Aces General Manager, Justin Huber
The Melbourne Aces are proud to be hosting the KT Wiz in Geelong, further improving our blossoming relationships with KBO teams interested in our region as a top choice for spring training.Advancing on the success at Melbourne Ballpark in 2024 with the Hanwha Eagles, we will ensure the KT Wiz will have all the support we can provide to maximise their experience, which will include a highly anticipated pre season game against the Aces on 21st February.
KT Wiz General Manager, Na Do-Hyun
We appreciate the City of Greater Geelong providing such great training facilities to KT Wiz.Geelong has the perfect conditions for our players to prepare off-season with high quality facilities and nice weather.
Geelong Baseball Club president, Adam Renouf
As President of the Geelong Baseball Club (Geelong Baycats), I'm thrilled to welcome KT Wiz to our club, our facility and our city.This marks an incredible opportunity for cultural exchange and baseball excellence. There will definitely be a buzz around the diamond, this provides us with a unique opportunity to host and watch these talented athletes and showcase elite level international baseball.
This can only promote our club, our region and our sport through our shared love of the game!
