Bangkok Midnight Marathon 2020 bans foreigners

[webfact]

Bangkok Midnight Marathon 2020 bans foreigners

By Jack Burton

 

 

It’s official. The Bangkok Midnight Marathon 2020 is closed to foreigners. Popular blogger Richard Barrow posted the news last night saying… “For some reason, the organisers of this year’s Bangkok Midnight Marathon have decided not to allow foreigners to run. I hope this doesn’t become part of the ‘new normal’.”

 

Unsurprisingly, the social media outrage was swift…

 

“Anyone who has lived in Thailand for any length of time should not be surprised by the institutionalised xenophobia. It’s not the fault of the average Thai, just the idiocy from above.”

 

“A good forum should be set up for all institutions and event organisers/companies that endorse this behaviour so we know who not to support in any format!”

 

“Surely excluding foreigners from competing will devalue the achievement of those participating in the race. Did you win because you were the best… or only because the best were excluded?!“

 

Even the Marathon office’s official Facebook page had these remarks posted on it…

 

“You don’t allow non-Thais to participate, so why is the banner in English? You only want English-speaking Thai nationals?”

 

“Unbelievable. I hope that no one will sign up for your race…”

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/expats/bangkok-midnight-marathon-2020-bans-foreigners

 

-- © Copyright The Thaiger 2020-08-07

 

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[Thaiwrath]

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

not to allow foreigners to run

And they wan't tourists to come back in their droves, yet continue with their xenophobic comments ?

unbelievable !

Edited August 7, 2020 by Thaiwrath

[YetAnother]

13 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

And they wan't tourists to come back in their droves, yet continue with their xenophobic comments ?

unbelievable !

Well, Thai hypocrisy IS the old normal

[DirtyHarry55]

WHY just because they can or is there some logic behind the decision?
Hope this isn't the case with other Marathons this year as I want enter a few!
 

[VMKW]

7 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

Well, Thai hypocrisy IS the old normal

It is simply called Racism.

[ChipButty]

I wont be taking part

[PatOngo]

14 minutes ago, DirtyHarry55 said:

WHY just because they can or is there some logic behind the decision?

Maybe now a puny Thai will have a chance to win.

 

 

Edited August 7, 2020 by PatOngo

[fangless]

2 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

I wont be taking part

Is that as a result of too many "Chip Butties"?

[from the home of CC]

don't blame them a bit -  when you look at the irresponsible actions and predictable outcomes of dealing with the virus in other countries foreigners have Thais concerned and if other nations hadn't of acted so stupid there would probably be reduced fear..  

[Boomer6969]

Guess that most of us have Facebook accounts, so we all must share that Thailand is now deeply racist, and that any tourist who comes here is wasting his time and money.

[geisha]

Do your own marathons!
 

[2 is 1]

Keep it! Stupid sport anyway, not even run behind ball! But don't ban my Chang nomore!

[johng]

32 minutes ago, DirtyHarry55 said:

WHY just because they can or is there some logic behind the decision?
Hope this isn't the case with other Marathons this year as I want enter a few!
 

Yes other Marathons have said no to foreigners too there was news about it the other day

 

I won't be entering...always remember what happened to the original "Marathon Man"

[jollyhangmon]

 

... yes, yes, nothin' new here really ... you often get decisions like that from people where mom 'n' dad were closely related ... 

[herfiehandbag]

I expect the original thinking was not to accept entries from foreigners living outside Thailand. As ever that thinking has become muddled up, and someone somewhere has thought that it applies to all non Thais. The decision won't be reversed, loss of face you see.

 

Whilst there is xenophobia present amongst some here, and it will certainly play its part in the "upper echelons" accepting these sorts of rulings, I don't think that this reflects deeply ingrained racism; more the inchoate nature of so much decision making here.

[DirtyHarry55]

7 minutes ago, johng said:

Yes other Marathons have said no to foreigners too there was news about it the other day

 

I won't be entering...always remember what happened to the original "Marathon Man"

Oh no maybe we have to organize an Xpat Marathon in protest

Yea reminds me of the last time I went the dentist in hear eeeeaaach!!

[thequietman]

42 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

I wont be taking part

Mainly cause you couldn't run to the end of your street, or cause you are mad about the rule? ????

[johng]

Pattaya used to have Bikini beach Marathons ????

[JTXR]

As in many other countries these days, Covid-19 has allowed many with anti-foreigner bigotry to try to normalize it and portray it as somehow ok due to the pandemic.

[Heppinger]

23 minutes ago, jollyhangmon said:

 

... yes, yes, nothin' new here really ... you often get decisions like that from people where mom 'n' dad were closely related ... 

i didn't think muslims were into marathons

[RichardColeman]

I heard they just amended the ruling and that foreigners can take part with safety measures 

[bodga]

is  it  ok  for  me  to  go  watch  and  cough  loudly  and  persistently?

[bodga]

15 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

I heard they just amended the ruling and that foreigners can take part with safety measures 

Thats a blatant lie, FLORA  has  disappeared off Tescos  shelves, been gone  a  while now☹️

[whiteman]

Oh no maybe we have to organize an Xpat Marathon in protest  GOOD IDEA  start to organize it then

[limbos]

2 hours ago, DirtyHarry55 said:

WHY just because they can or is there some logic behind the decision?
Hope this isn't the case with other Marathons this year as I want enter a few!
 

Chiang Mai marathon is considering entry for expats as of 1st October.
A 100km trail run only for Thais and only 20-60 years old.
Unless there will be ministerial level interference, this will continue.

[ChipButty]

1 hour ago, johng said:

Pattaya used to have Bikini beach Marathons ????

With Ladyboys?

[JeffersLos]

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I wont be taking part

Yeah, we know.

 

 

You're not allowed to. 

[johng]

1 minute ago, ChipButty said:

With Ladyboys?

Maybe ...sometimes its hard to tell.

[johng]

4 minutes ago, limbos said:

A 100km trail run

100 kilometers !!  ?

[JeffersLos]

Though let's be honest.

 

That a foreigner that has been in Thailand since last year, cannot enter, but groups of Thais that arrived from, say, America last week is a bit silly.

 

It should be based on the last time one has entered the country. 

 

Perhaps anybody that has been outside of Thailand within one month of the race date cannot enter, be them Thai or foreign.