Joyous crowd flock to receive “Bike for Mom” royal gifts

[Lite Beer]

Joyous crowd flock to receive “Bike for Mom” royal gifts

BANGKOK: -- The Thai Army Sports Stadium on Vibhavadi Rangsit road was today packed with several tens of thousands of joyous people, who have earlier registered to participate in the "Bike for Mom" event, coming to receive royal gifts which are pins and blue T-shirts.

The pin has the picture of King Rama V statute and the T-shirt was written with the slogan “Bike for Mom” on the front and on the back.

Event authorities said the royal gifts would be handed over to the people beginning 9 am until 8 pm from today until tomorrow.

Each participant in the Bike for Mom to be held on August 16 will receive the gift one by one in front of the image of Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.

People started to gather in front of the Thai Army Sports Stadium since 4 am although it will open for registering queue numbers to receive the gifts at 9 am.

A total of 90,000 blue T-shirts and 100,000 pins will be available for distribution from today until tomorrow in Bangkok, while those in the provinces will receive the gifts on August 12 at city hall in each province.

In Bangkok, those who came before daybreak said they wanted to be first to receive the royal gifts.

Metropolitan police have closed the outbound inner lanes of Vibhavadi Rangsit road from the Veterans General Hospital to Sutthisan intersection from 5 am to 8 pm today and tomorrow to facilitate people coming to receive the gifts.

However the police advised that travel by public transport will be more convenient than driving themselves although parking spaces were arranged at the Army sports stadium compound.

By late in the afternoon, several tens of thousands of people have arrived and queued up to register, causing the human queue to stretch out of the compound to PTT head office.

Food and water were given free of charge to people waiting to register.

So far over 300,000 people have registered to take part in the Bike for Mom event nationwide. The parallel event will also be held in the provinces on the same day.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/joyous-crowd-flock-to-receive-bike-for-mom-royal-gifts

-- Thai PBS 2015-07-25

[MESmith]

"However the police advised that travel by public transport will be more convenient than driving themselves although parking spaces were arranged at the Army sports stadium compound."

They didn't ride their bikes?

[tbthailand]

so who paid for the pins and t-shirts?

[15Peter20]

I'd say there were no more than a couple of thousand in that picture. Maybe the 'tens of thousands' turned up at another time.

[slapout]

For a country which claim s that unemployment is virtually zero, any offer of freebies attracts tens of thousands of people.who show up to collect their booty.. Why arent these people at work? The vast number of motorcycles observered on the roadways during normal working hours (8 to 5) carrying 3 people, I would suspect are not drawing salary. They seem more interested in finding a vendor selling snacks or liquid refreshment. The farmers who have been limited to a single crop for the year are they counted as employed while laying in their hammoock awaiting rain, release of irrigation water etc? What about the wives of these farmerrs are they considered full time employeed? What about the young adults in the viillages who are not attending school and only find occasional odd jobs helping somone for a couple days and then go about their layabout position again.?

I watched the shanty towns spring up for the burma people/families, and other foreign labor groups who appear to do most of the construction work that goes on in the CM area but see few Thai on the actual work crew. Are the potential thai male worker holding out for a position of authority, liiving off of a allowance provided by family business, sponging off a friend,. in a word how do they pay their way in society?

[lungbing]

It wasn't until I saw an advert for this on TV that I realised it was "Bike for Mom" and not "Buy for Mom" as nobody seems to pronounce the 'K".

[ldiablo]

@slapout. You ever hear of an afternoon or night shift.

[Happy Grumpy]

Ignore reality with these nice blue pins.

Horrayyyy!

[Happy Grumpy]

For a country which claim s that unemployment is virtually zero, any offer of freebies attracts tens of thousands of people.who show up to collect their booty.. Why arent these people at work? The vast number of motorcycles observered on the roadways during normal working hours (8 to 5) carrying 3 people, I would suspect are not drawing salary. They seem more interested in finding a vendor selling snacks or liquid refreshment. The farmers who have been limited to a single crop for the year are they counted as employed while laying in their hammoock awaiting rain, release of irrigation water etc? What about the wives of these farmerrs are they considered full time employeed? What about the young adults in the viillages who are not attending school and only find occasional odd jobs helping somone for a couple days and then go about their layabout position again.?

I watched the shanty towns spring up for the burma people/families, and other foreign labor groups who appear to do most of the construction work that goes on in the CM area but see few Thai on the actual work crew. Are the potential thai male worker holding out for a position of authority, liiving off of a allowance provided by family business, sponging off a friend,. in a word how do they pay their way in society?

Farang think too much.

Not good.

Not good heart like Thai people.

[jayboy]

There is much of interest in this report and none of it is to do with bicycles.The cognoscenti will understand.

[tukkytuktuk]

I think most people queuing would like the Rama V pin. Rama V is thought to bring good luck and prosperity. These pins will be treasured by their owner's. The T-shirt will also by worn with pride by the owner.

[Lite Beer]

PM delighted with large turnout for 'Bike for Mom' souvenirs
PANYA THIOSANGWAN
THE SUNDAY NATION

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut |Chan-o-cha was overjoyed to |see thousands of people show |up at the Thai Army Sports Stadium in Bangkok yesterday to get free royally-granted souvenir shirts and pins for the "Bike For Mom" cycling event, Army spokesman Col Winthai Suwari said.

He said people who showed up very early in the morning were determined and orderly in a queue while their faces looked full of happiness. So, the PM congratulated them and gave morale support to participants in the event.

"The fact that a large |number of Thais are interested and showed up for the souvenirs today reflected that Thai people are ready to unite in the activity to express love and loyalty to the monarchy. This [cycling event] also yields benefits to the majority and creates an atmosphere of people's unity and reconciliation that the National Council for Peace and Order [NCPO] and the government aim for."

Distribution of souvenirs

The distribution of "Bike for Mom" souvenirs in Bangkok was scheduled yesterday and today at the Army stadium. In the evening, a musical concert plus a special football match was held, and will be on again tonight, Winthai added.

Police closed the outbound Vibhavadi Rangsit Road from Veterans General Hospital to Sutthisan junction this weekend to cater to a large number of people wanting the souvenirs. They also advised people to use public transport then get shuttle buses from Victory Monument, or the Northeastern Bus Terminal and Chatuchak.

The cycling event, initiated by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to mark Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's 83rd birthday this year, will be held on August 16.

Her Majesty's birthday, on August 12, is also the National Mother's Day in Thailand.

On August 16, the Crown Prince will lead a convoy of cyclists at 3pm from the Royal Plaza near Government House to the 11th Infantry Regiment (Royal Guard) on Phahon Yothin Road in Bang Khen district and return. Cycling events will be held simultaneously in other provinces, where many thousands of well-wishers and cyclists will start trips at the same time from provincial halls. Previously, it was reported that Prayut would lead ministers to ride bicycles for 43 kilometres in a July 28 rehearsal before the Bike for Mom event officially takes place on August 16.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/PM-delighted-with-large-turnout-for-Bike-for-Mom-s-30265225.html

-- The Nation 2015-07-26

[JAG]

There is much of interest in this report and none of it is to do with bicycles.The cognoscenti will understand.

I always thought a cognoscenti was a particularly elaborate Italian ice cream, but I get what you're on about. Ducks being lined up and all that!

[brewsterbudgen]

There is much of interest in this report and none of it is to do with bicycles.The cognoscenti will understand.

Indeed. This is quite a significant event.

[kaorop]

Should have taken my bikes I want to sell there

[dageurreotype]

I think most people queuing would like the Rama V pin. Rama V is thought to bring good luck and prosperity. These pins will be treasured by their owner's. The T-shirt will also by worn with pride by the owner.

Which once again points up how backward easily pleased this third world country really is

[dageurreotype]

So self imposed prime minister is 'overjoyed' to see 'joyous crowds' picking up pins and t shirts. Just when I thought this country couldn't get more imbecilic

Edited July 26, 2015 by dageurreotype

[sammygood]

if you really, really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really have nothing better to do, than that could be a nice day out