Special Report: Phuket set to host Asian Beach Games 2014

[Lite Beer]

Special Report: Phuket set to host Asian Beach Games 2014

PHUKET: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has urged Thai athletes who are joining the Asian Beach Games 2014 to do their best in the spirit of sportsmanship, and to set good examples for young people.

About 300 Thai athletes and officials yesterday paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister before their participation in the fourth Asian Beach Games, to be held in Phuket province; from 14 to 23 November 2014.

According to the Prime Minister, the Government is ready to promote all types of sports in order to develop and upgrade Thailand’s sports activities and services to international standards. Playing sports will lead to physical and psychological development and help encouraging people to live together happily. People have become more interested in playing sports nowadays, which would help them learn to be patient, and stick to discipline as well as respect social rules.

As for the upcoming Asian Beach Games, the PM urged all Thais to serve as good hosts and extend a warm welcome to international athletes and other visitors, so that they would be impressed with Thailand. The Games will also contribute to the Thai economy and the tourism industry.

Thailand has been honored by the Olympic Council of Asia to host the Games this year. This multi-discipline sporting event has been held every two years since 2008. The first Asian Beach Games took place on the island of Bali, Indonesia, the second in the city of Muscat, Oman, and the third edition along the coastline of Haiyang, China. The fourth edition of the Games will take place on Phuket Island, which has been recognized as one of Asia’s best-known tourist destinations.

The Asian Beach Games 2014 will be held under the slogan “Celebrate Charming Sunshine.” As Phuket is home to many rare species of sea turtle, it has chosen three sea turtles, named Sintu, Samut, and Sakorn, as mascots of the Games. Apart from international and Thai food, Phuket will also prepare halal and vegetarian food for participants in the Games.

The event features 26 types of sports competitions taking place at six venues. Among the sports competitions are beach volleyball, beach basketball, sailing, windsurfing, paragliding, jet-skiing, water skiing, the triathlon, beach soccer, and beach athletics. There will be 168 gold medals to be presented. Out of this number, Thai athletes have targeted between 40 and 50.

More than 6,000 athletes and officials from 45 different countries across Asia will participate in the Asian Beach Games 2014. A total of 43 hotels are preparing rooms for the participants. The event is expected to generate up to 1 billion baht for the local economy.

-- NNT 2014-11-08

[iReason]

"As Phuket is home to many rare species of sea turtle...)

As was Koh Tao (Turtle Island) until the locals decimated the population of the poor beasts.

Nary one seen now...

[Alwyn]

"About 300 Thai athletes and officials yesterday paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister" They just popped in to say hello or were they summons? Doesn't matter because this is just too good to pass on.. "According to the Prime Minister, the Government is ready to promote all types of sports in order to develop and upgrade Thailand’s sports activities and services to international standards. Playing sports will lead to physical and psychological development and help encouraging people to live together happily. People have become more interested in playing sports nowadays, which would help them learn to be patient, and stick to discipline as well as respect social rules". It all sounds like something from Mao Zedong's essays!

[Somtamnication]

Yeah, across from Villa 5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No beaches in Phuket, so they are building a beach behind Honda, on the way to Songla Univ. Boggles the mind!