Among the different formulas to increase the popularity of a sport and with it the possibilities of catapulting itself to the Olympic program, there is one that in modern life has been established as the most accepted: using the Youth Games as a platform for takeoff. At least until Paris 2024. This gradual growth was visibly manifested in sport climbing and skateboarding, first exhibition sports among minors, then official and, since Tokyo 2020, consolidated in the catalog of seniors of the five rings.
A different path is traced by Muay Thai, Thai kickboxing, a discipline that, without having passed through the filter of YOGs (such as lacrosse or flag football, which will be in LA28), will have its place in the margins of the schedule in the French capital, like beach handball, in a milestone that fuels their aspirations to consolidate their inclusion in the official program, perhaps in place of boxing, a combat sport with constant references to the management.
This was stated by Sakchye Tapsuwan, the president of the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA), an internationally recognized entity composed of 152 associations, with representatives from five continents. “This is a monumental step towards the dream of Muay Thai becoming an official Olympic sport,” Tapsuwan said last Thursday at a press conference in Bangkok.
A total of one thousand athletes from 24 countries on five continents will be present at Club France’s Muay Thai stadium, one of the playful and festive hearts of Paris 2024. On August 5 and 6, there will be more than 10 hours of combat and the most notable participation will be that of the Thai world champion Buakaw Banchamek, who will perform the traditional wai khru ritual. In addition, spectators will be able to access workshops on the discipline in the Olympic Park.
Martial art with Thai roots is a fixture at the World Games and saw action at the 2023 European Games. Since 2021, it has been part of the portfolio of sports classified as “Olympic” by the IOC, despite not being part of the official program. This status has allowed him to apply for admission to it within three years. Prior to the gala in the French capital, the next World Championship will be held in Greece between May 31 and June 9.
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