Phuket Beach Games - the ideal blend of sport and tourism, says OCA

Phuket, Thailand, April 28, 2014: The Director General and Technical Director of the Olympic Council of Asia, Mr Husain Al-Musallam, believes the 4th Asian Beach Games in Phuket, Thailand, this November will be the perfect combination of tourism and sport.

Speaking at the 200-day countdown celebration at the Jungceylon Shopping Mall in Patong on Monday, Mr Al-Musallam said Thailand’s experience in organising multi-sport events would lead to the successful hosting of the beach and sea sports festival.

The 4th Asian Beach Games will run from November 14-23 and feature 168 events in 26 sports. The 45 member National Olympic Committees of the OCA will be represented by around 6,000 athletes and team officials.

"Thailand is trusted by the world’s sports community and has a reputation for the successful hosting of many international multi-sport events in the past few decades," he told the guests and spectators.

"This time Thailand has received the honour from the Olympic Council of Asia of hosting the 4th Asian Beach Games this November. They will be a Games of happiness, fun and modern sports presentation on the famous beaches of Phuket.

"I believe that, with the efforts and experience of the past, Thailand will once again make another great success and another milestone in Asian sports history in which tourism and sport can perfectly combine."

The OCA held the first Asian Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia, in 2008. The event proved to be so successful and attractive that host cities were signed up quickly for the second edition in Muscat, Oman, in 2010, Haiyang, China, in 2012, Phuket in 2014 and Nha Trang, Vietnam, in 2016.

"The 4th Asian Beach Games is intended to be the biggest event ever with 26 sports in six venue clusters around Phuket," he added.

"It is expected that a great number of athletes, officials and tourists from all over Asia and other parts of the world will enjoy the Games in Phuket and help to generate income and build a very positive image of sport in Thailand."

Mr Al-Musallam added that the OCA’s decision to award hosting rights to Phuket proved the trust and support of the Asian sports movement in the Phuket tourism industry following the devastating tsunami that hit the island and region in December 2004.

Ju-jitsu, squash and sambo wrestling have been added to the programme, taking the number of sports to 26 and gold medals to 168.

Squash will be played in Perspex courts transported to Phuket and constructed at one of the six venues.

The Sports Director of the Ju-jitsu Asian Union, Joachim Thumfart, is expecting 120 athletes from at least 15 NOCs to compete in 12 events. The ju-jitsu competition will be held at Patong Beach on November 12-13.

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