Thai Sports Development Inspiring Confidence Despite Shaky Government -- On the Scene

(ATR) Thailand sport and tourism minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul says that international sport and tourism will continue to prosper despite the recent transformation to a military government and the imposition of marshal law.

Wattanavrangkul emphasized the magnitude of the ongoing Asian Beach Games to Thailand. The Thai minister assumed her position in August, along with General Prayuth Chan-ocha becoming prime minister following a May 22 coup.

"After what has happened to Thailand, the Asian Beach Games are a major event to showcase Thailand to the international world that we are back to or even better than what we used to be," said Wattanavrangkul in an interview with Around the Ringsat the Anthem Wake Park venue in the center of the island.

With 43 Asian NOCs represented, approximately 5,000 international athletes, officials, visitors and media are in Phuket for the Games.

Cost of the Asian Beach Games to the Southeast Asian nation is reportedly 30 billion Thai baht, or just over $1 million USD.

"The broadcast and sport news is important so people can see not only sport, but also Phuket and Thailand and see that we are safe," Wattanavrangkul said. "We are more beautiful, and we are having a good time. Athletes are the best ambassadors for Thailand. This is the best advertisement for our country."

Wattanavrangkul praised the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, president of the OCA and ANOC, for his commitment to bringing the games to Thailand despite the recent turmoil.

"Someone had doubts, and he said, ‘No one knows Thailand more than I.’ He has been visiting us for 20 years," Wattanavrangkul advised. "He has seen many ups and downs of our country and understands us. It is because of him that the Beach Games are here."

The deputy sports minister also believes that the Games can be a catalyst for attaining future events, most notably the inaugural World Beach Games in 2017.

"If we pass this successfully, I believe we can," Wattanavrangkul said of the possibility of hosting the 2017 Beach Games. "We are becoming a world class host. Facilities are important, but more than that, it’s our people. It’s a learning curve for our students and team from the south of the region and Bangkok."

Sheikh Ahmad, who addressed athletes at the opening ceremony and has been in Phuket for the early stages of the games, expressed confidence in Thailand.

"I'm very delighted to support Thailand to become a candidate nation to host the World Beach Games in a near future," said Sheikh Ahmad, the leader of ANOC, proprietor of the new brand.

"As far as I'm concerned, Thailand's chances of hosting the World Beach Games have already come close to reality," the Sheikh added. "Some elements badly required to accomplish that target are the technological matters. If they can improve on this part, I'm upbeat that Thailand can play host to any major tournament."

However, Thailand is not without challenges in the aftermath of the coup. Violence in the south, unresolved murders of two British tourists and media censorship have all made headlines.

Journalists in Thailand are demanding the revocation of government measures restricting media freedom, as well as the lifting of martial law.

A Thai PBS TV journalist was removed from her role after soldiers visited the station last week. Thai Journalist Association vice chairman Manop Thiposod noted that despite martial law in place, the nation’s constitution guarantees media rights and freedoms.

Safety will be a major concern to address if the nation hopes to host more international events. So far, security at Phuket 2014 has been sufficient, with more than 2,000 police providing adequate protection and no major incidents reported.

The Asian Games have been contested in the capital city of Bangkok four times, most recently in 1998, but no Olympic Games or major global multi-sport event has ever been held in the country.

The Asian Beach Games in Phuket continue through Nov. 23.

Tourism in Thailand

Kobkan Wattanavrangkul, who spoke with ATR after returning from running in the Bangkok Marathon on Nov. 16, discussed the state of tourism in Thailand, once again emphasizing the positive impact of the Asian Beach Games.

"I believe that all the athletes and people coming for the games are the best ambassadors for Thailand, because they will take photos and immediately share them," Wattanavrangkul said.

"In the beginning of the year because of the political situation, the number of tourists has gone down, but after the new government it started to pick up, although not until October," she advised.

More than 26 million tourists visited Thailand in 2013. The tourism minister advised that in 2014, factoring the Asian Beach Games, numbers are down about one million.

"Bookings are up and will continue through the Chinese New Year in January. Considering what happened in the beginning of the year, this is very good," she said.

The Thailand sports minister also addressed the issue of the nation’s longtime reputation as a mainstay for sexual tourism.

"Parties and sex are only one part of us that we hope to limit," Wattanavrangkul said. "We want to showcase the other parts of Thailand, and we aim to use sport.

"We have beautiful art, culture, history, nature and food, but the most important thing in Thailand are the Thai people and their way of life. We want to expose that to the international people."

Written by Brian Pinelli

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