Taipei - The International Baseball Federation (IBAF) has chosen Taiwan's Taichung city to replace Venezuela to host the 13th World Youth Baseball Championship, the Taichung City Government announced on Monday.

"The IBAF announced the decision to Taichung Mayor Jason Hu when Hu called on IBAF this weekend," Deputy Taichung Mayor Hsiao Chia-chi told reporters.

IBAF's Executive Committee made the decision at a meeting last Saturday, in recognition of Taichung's contribution to promoting baseball, Hsiao said.

Hu called on IBAF headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, to urge IBAF to keep baseball as one of Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee plans to drop baseball from Olympic Games in 2012.

The 13th World Youth Baseball Championship was scheduled to be held in Venezuela in July or August, featuring 13-to-16-year-old squads from 12 countries.

IBAF canceled the game after Taiwan protested Venezuela's denying Taiwan players entry visas, under orders from President Hugo Chavez who was trying to please China, which sees Taiwan as its breakaway province and bars Taiwan from attending international events.

Taichung, which has hosted several international baseball tournaments, applied to IBAF to replace Venezuela and host the youth baseball championship. (dpa)