Thai Sports Heroes Carry Parties Towards Election Goals

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Sports heroes carry parties towards election goals

By KITINAN SANGUANSAK

THE NATION

Sports-happy voters appear to be a big target group for at least two political parties with ambitious platforms for the country's sporting circles.

The coalition Chart Pattana Puea Pandin Party yesterday formally introduced former soccer hero Piyapong Piew-on as a new member. He is the latest athletic celebrity to join the party, which boasts sports heavyweight Suwat Liptapanlop as its de facto leader.

The party has already enlisted Paradorn Srichaphan, who reached ninth in the world professional men's tennis rankings, and Yaowapa Burapholchai, who bagged a bronze medal for women's taekwondo at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

Also yesterday, another sport luminary, Wanasthana "Big Hoy" Sajjakul, launched his own political party called "Palang Kon Keela" (The Sport Party). Formerly known as Thawatchai, Wanasthana said his party aimed to score 250 of the 500 MP seats up for grabs.

Piyapong, 48, arguably the most talented forward the country has ever produced, said that having the opportunity to work out a policy for the party was a worthwhile experience and he would have no regrets if he failed to win the election.

In his heyday, he won five SEA Games titles and the King's Cup tournament six times.

"Entering the political field never came across my mind, because I'm a sport person. But after having a chance to talk with the party's executives, I think it's good for me to have a chance to figure out the policy for the party on sports.

"The decision on whether I get a chance to run in the election is up to the party's board. I don't mind if they don't field me in the contest. Just to have a say in the party's policy is already enough for me.

"I really like our policy because I strongly feel it can drive the country's sports on to excellence. I always have the belief that sportsmanship will make a person become a real man. They will know how to behave when they win or lose in anything. This will promote unity in society."

Piyapong also insisted that he was not building a sandcastle in the air when he planned to find a way to lead the Thai side to the Fifa World Cup for the first time.

"Some say it's crazy to think about Thailand reaching the World Cup finals. But I'm not out of my mind, because I think everyone has the right to dream. But when we dream we need to figure out how we can achieve it. As a soccer player, I know what to do in order to realise what many deem a distant dream."

However, Paradon is unlikely to contest in the next election as he did not cast his ballot in the previous election, which according to the law makes him ineligible to vote in the following election. Yaowapa is expected to contest in Bangkok's Lak Si constituency.

Sporting way

Chart Pattana Puea Pandin Party has drawn up its policies based on its belief in promoting sport as a platform for the development of the whole society, socially and economically. Its 10-point programme consists of:

- Building mini sports complexes as well as providing sports equipment in every tambon across the country to help people gain better access to sports.

- Providing Bt1 billion every year as financial support for every sports association, and an additional Bt1 billion for sports associations at provincial level.

- Allocating Bt1 billion per year for the National Sports Development Fund with a variety of purposes, including hiring foreign coaches and covering expenses of national athletes competing overseas.

- Setting up a welfare fund for national athletes with an initial amount of Bt1 billion to look after past and present athletes.

- Increasing incentives for athletes or sports officials who achieve success in international tournaments, such as doubling the rewards for athletes winning Olympic gold medals from Bt10 million to Bt20 million.

- Adopting tax measures to support the the country's sports. Companies supporting sports associations would earn tax exemption at a specific rate.

- Building a "residence village" for national athletes as encouragement for them to compete for the nation.

- Operating a 24-hour Sports TV channel, which would encourage people to become more interested in sports.

- Holding international sports event at least once a month to promote the country to the world.

- Making the dream come true of seeing the national soccer team take part in the World Cup.

-- The Nation 2011-05-11