Japan's Olympic training dates set

Members of Japan's national baseball team will report to training camp on Aug. 2 next year, just prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a Nippon Professional Baseball committee said Monday. The NPB committee gave its approval for next year's All-Star series to be played July 31 and Aug. 1, with national team members to report to the Olympic training camp the following day. Senichi Hoshino, who has been appointed manager of the national team, had hoped to hold a camp on Aug. 1, while the 12 professional baseball teams had requested that players report on Aug. 4 or later. A compromise was reached to shift the All-Star Games, normally held in mid-July, to immediately before the camp. Players not involved in the All-Star series will be expected to report Aug. 2, even if the series is postponed.

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