WHERE: Baseball Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park; Baseball Centre, Blacktown Olympic Centre.

 WHEN: Sept. 17-27.

 MEDALS: Eight men's teams will compete.

 OUTLOOK: Professional players are eligible to take part for the first time in the Olympics, which could affect powerhouse Cuba. The Cubans won the first two Olympic gold medals in 1992 and 1996 and have taken every world championship since 1974.

 Watch for former major leaguer Dave Nilsson, who will catch for Australia, which earned an automatic bid as the host nation.