"We never banned foreigners" - Chiang Mai marathon organizers say claims are “fake news”

[webfact]

"We never banned foreigners" - Chiang Mai marathon organizers say claims are “fake news”

 

Image: Chiang Mai Marathon

 

The organizers of the annual Chiang Mai Marathon have hit back at claims in the media that foreigners have been banned and that they are running a Thai only event. But the denial has created its own huge backlash.

 

On their facebook page they said: "Muangthai Chiangmai Marathon team clarified that "This is not true. We have never shared any information that this year's Chiang Mai Marathon will not be attended by foreigners".

 

They described accusations of racism as "quite severe".

 

They added: "We have (announced)on our official website that foreigners who live in Thailand and wish to participate in this race, please look forward to (an) announcement on October 1, 2020. We (are aware) it is important for all expats and their families to come and enjoy our running event. The Chiangmai Marathon is (an) event that has been attended by most foreigners. And it generates a lot of income to the local community of Chiang Mai, which is something we are very proud of".

 

However, on their own Facebook page and in other Chiang Mai forums the organizers are still being called out for allegedly being racist and allegedly banning foreigners. They see the denial that has been issued and the fake news claim as a complete whitewash.

 

One with a foreign name said on the Marathon organizers' page: "Your own RACE ORGANIZER posted the race was for ‘Thai only’ on July 15th on his personal page! You really are pathetic".

 

Another with a foreign name said: "You miss the point, (It's not fake news) all we want is to be treated the same way as Thais; we had to endure the same lockdown and restrictions, so why are we treated differently?"

 

A foreign female poster that garnered lots of likes stated: "Not allowing foreigners to sign up at the same time as everyone else is clear inequality. Don’t you understand how this is seen as racist? To make us wait, for you to maybe consider us to sign up if the race isn’t full? This is why we are upset - it’s discrimination. We work and live here, we pay taxes and at the end of the day we all love to run. You’re creating a very bad image for Chiang Mai running right now".

 

With increasing calls for clarity the case seems set to be as long running as a marathon itself, notes Thaivisa. 

 

Source: Chiang Mai Marathon

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-08-11

 

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[Shuya]

Ah yes... So this time is was "fake news" who made the race. Second runner up is "big misunderstanding", third place goes to "not my fault". 

[JeffersLos]

5 minutes ago, Shuya said:

Ah yes... So this time is was "fake news" who made the race. Second runner up is "big misunderstanding", third place goes to "not my fault". 

4th Place: The brakes failed. 

[YetAnother]

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

"Your own RACE ORGANIZER posted the race was for ‘Thai only’ on July 15th on his personal page! You really are pathetic".

typical thai behavior from officials; when caught out, just deny and shift blame

[ChouDoufu]

too late, buddy. 

i shall take this "misunderstanding" to re-evaluate my priorities.

 

you don't want dirty foreigners to run in your filthy city?

no problem.

 

this stinky foreigner will plan to run the angkor wat marathon.

now, that's truly AMAZING!

 

Edited August 11, 2020 by ChouDoufu

[Tropicalevo]

Isn't there a new police department tracking down and prosecuting people who post fake news? Come on BIBs.

[johng]

12 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Isn't there a new police department tracking down and prosecuting people who post fake news?

Yes but I think they have their hands full  trying to  take down  "other" news  from Thammasat University !!

[DLock]

Liar liar, pants on fire...

[scubascuba3]

The problem is their knowledge, Thais think farang are greater risk of covid than Thais even though zero cases 

[mr mr]

hahah dinosaurs in the digital age are always so good for a laugh. wait i didn't say that worked in this country for hundreds of years. not anymore. 

[AhFarangJa]

[connda]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

They added: "We have (announced)on our official website that foreigners who live in Thailand and wish to participate in this race, please look forward to (an) announcement on October 1, 2020. We (are aware) it is important for all expats and their families to come and enjoy our running event. The Chiangmai Marathon is (an) event that has been attended by most foreigners. And it generates a lot of income to the local community of Chiang Mai, which is something we are very proud of".

It would be nice if as a by-product of the Covid hysteria and border lockdowns that suddenly long-stay expats who have been here for years if not decades are looked at as part of the general population and not just a bunch of foreign outsiders no different than tourist.
Now we are in fact different than tourists and all other foreigner visitors.  We are here of our own choice and make this our 'home.' And we are living on the inside of this locked down country. Tourist and visitors are either locked out of the country <or required to run a gauntlet of rules, regulations, and quarantines making trips here daunting> or are stranded awaiting to return to their foreign home.  And now perhaps some Thais are actually seeing this?  "Oh.  The expats live here.  No different than us."

This is actually a very good precedent as organizations such as TAT and these local groups such as Muangthai Chiangmai Marathon and other civic organizations start to realize that excluding long-stay foreigners based on their race/ethnicity really put them and Thailand in a bad light, but that extending a hand of inclusiveness and friendship to those who live here may be the better path to follow. And it gets that fact into the public's eye via the media that long-term expats don't pose anymore of a Covid threat than any Thai living in Thailand. Plus there is the economic incentive in that virtually all of us fit into the economic category that is being targeted for 'domestic tourism' by the Thai government. 

We can hope.  For those of us here supporting families and the economy it would be nice to begin to gain some acceptance from the the government and average Thais that we are here living in Thailand just as they are - and for the same reasons - we make this our 'home.' 
Time will tell.

Edited August 11, 2020 by connda

[Logosone]

Foreigners should form a human wall and interrupt this marathon at the most crucial time.

 

With banners "We are Covid Monsters".

[TKDfella]

1 hour ago, connda said:

It would be nice if as a by-product of the Covid hysteria and border lockdowns that suddenly long-stay expats who have been here for years if not decades are looked at as part of the general population and not just a bunch of foreign outsiders no different than tourist.
Now we are in fact different than tourists and all other foreigner visitors.  We are here of our own choice and make this our 'home.' And we are living on the inside of this locked down country. Tourist and visitors are either locked out of the country <or required to run a gauntlet of rules, regulations, and quarantines making trips here daunting> or are stranded awaiting to return to their foreign home.  And now perhaps some Thais are actually seeing this?  "Oh.  The expats live here.  No different than us."

This is actually a very good precedent as organizations such as TAT and these local groups such as Muangthai Chiangmai Marathon and other civic organizations start to realize that excluding long-stay foreigners based on their race/ethnicity really put them and Thailand in a bad light, but that extending a hand of inclusiveness and friendship to those who live here may be the better path to follow. And it gets that fact into the public's eye via the media that long-term expats don't pose anymore of a Covid threat than any Thai living in Thailand. Plus there is the economic incentive in that virtually all of us fit into the economic category that is being targeted for 'domestic tourism' by the Thai government. 

We can hope.  For those of us here supporting families and the economy it would be nice to begin to gain some acceptance from the the government and average Thais that we are here living in Thailand just as they are - and for the same reasons - we make this our 'home.' 
Time will tell.

Ain't gonna happen. As long as the extension stamp in our passports is for one year only and also states '...must leave the kingdom on...' we will be viewed as long term tourists. I sincerely wish I am wrong but I see no evidence of that. Sad.

[RocketDog]

3 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

4th Place: The brakes failed. 

Wait, where does microsleep come into this? 

[rasmus5150]

1 hour ago, Logosone said:

Foreigners should form a human wall and interrupt this marathon at the most crucial time.

 

With banners "We are Covid Monsters".

Banner should say "We are Dirty Farang".

Just like A Nut In .......

[rasmus5150]

[Darkside Gray]

Yes! We believe you.

[Dap]

32 minutes ago, rasmus5150 said:

Well done 

[Bangkok Barry]

3 hours ago, connda said:

It would be nice if as a by-product of the Covid hysteria and border lockdowns that suddenly long-stay expats who have been here for years if not decades are looked at as part of the general population and not just a bunch of foreign outsiders no different than tourist.
Now we are in fact different than tourists and all other foreigner visitors.  We are here of our own choice and make this our 'home.' And we are living on the inside of this locked down country. Tourist and visitors are either locked out of the country <or required to run a gauntlet of rules, regulations, and quarantines making trips here daunting> or are stranded awaiting to return to their foreign home.  And now perhaps some Thais are actually seeing this?  "Oh.  The expats live here.  No different than us."

This is actually a very good precedent as organizations such as TAT and these local groups such as Muangthai Chiangmai Marathon and other civic organizations start to realize that excluding long-stay foreigners based on their race/ethnicity really put them and Thailand in a bad light, but that extending a hand of inclusiveness and friendship to those who live here may be the better path to follow. And it gets that fact into the public's eye via the media that long-term expats don't pose anymore of a Covid threat than any Thai living in Thailand. Plus there is the economic incentive in that virtually all of us fit into the economic category that is being targeted for 'domestic tourism' by the Thai government. 

We can hope.  For those of us here supporting families and the economy it would be nice to begin to gain some acceptance from the the government and average Thais that we are here living in Thailand just as they are - and for the same reasons - we make this our 'home.' 
Time will tell.

A first step might be to change my permission to 'visit' my wife of 30 years to 'live' with her, in the visa rules. If anything makes you a visitor rather than a resident, that pathetic terminology does. What makes it worse is that is exactly all you are allowed to do, due to the limit of the visa that you have to renew year after after year after year after year. My sister-in-law is living with her Dutch husband in Hungary and was given a five-year visa, making both of them feel welcome to reside and put money into the economy.

[Buck5868]

Here’s an idea , why don’t the dirty Falangs organise a fun run but only for Falangs . No Thais allowed... just a thought !

[Krabi King]

Bad boy... erase your tracks!

[Elkski]

Anut in the little man  is to blame for this.  Just like trump he made it seem ok to act out on your  prejudices.   DOESN'T the thai government or TAT have competent PR people working for them?  Obviously not.  This and the boss escapade and many others sets back the thai Tourism industry to the tune of billions of baht.   They just seem brainless.  Same same the monkeys who went  crazy with no generous tourists. 

Edited August 11, 2020 by Elkski

[Scott Tracy]

I'm a non-immigrant. I'm on a long holiday. I stay here at the pleasure of the government of Thailand. I can be reported at any time. I have no rights here save those given to me by the this government.

 

I am a foreigner, I will remain a foreigner until I can become a resident or a citizen. I have no issues with that. I have issues with discrimination, tnough, and !ies, and obfuscations. 

[elliss]

9 hours ago, YetAnother said:

typical thai behavior from officials; when caught out, just deny and shift blame

Lets wise up . 

They don't really want farangs  here ...

[Elkski]

3 hours ago, elliss said:

Lets wise up . 

They don't really want farangs  here ...

It is more in the open these days.  But I felt it on my first visits 4 years ago.  Can't blame  the locals.  We have more money than many, we date the local women.  

I wonder what nationalities were in the top 5 finishers the past 2 years.  Maybe someone saw a chance to be on the podium?

[Captain Monday]

4 hours ago, Krabi King said:

Bad boy... erase your tracks!

After he saw a graph "I want to be Thailand only". ?

So Sayun is either epidemiologically ignorant or easily susceptible to Thai societal pressures to promote an exclusionary Nationalistic policy with no basis in medical science.

[Bluespunk]

12 hours ago, ChouDoufu said:

too late, buddy. 

i shall take this "misunderstanding" to re-evaluate my priorities.

 

you don't want dirty foreigners to run in your filthy city?

no problem.

 

this stinky foreigner will plan to run the angkor wat marathon.

now, that's truly AMAZING!

 

Ran that six or seven years ago.
 

Best marathon (well half marathon, knees not up to full distance anymore) I’ve ever taken part in. 

[Kinnock]

Well if you want life or health insurance, don't consider Muang Thai for a couple of months - and look at all the alternatives first.

 

Then if you've not found anyone else, consider them in October.

[rasmus5150]

2 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

Ran that six or seven years ago.
 

Best marathon (well half marathon, knees not up to full distance anymore) I’ve ever taken part in. 

Next you should try Bagan Marathon in Burma. It's truly wonderful to run in the sunrise, see all the hot-air balloons, and run among 3000 stupas and temples.

Awesome experience.????

Edited August 11, 2020 by rasmus5150
added picture