Press Conference and Announcements of Muaythai World Championship in Honour of His Majesty’s 80th Birthday

A massive press conference was held at the Rama Garden Hotel, chaired by HE General Pichitr Kullavanijaya, the Privy Councilor to HM the King of Thailand, to announce the 2007 World Championships, which will be held from the 27th November to 5th December in Bangkok. 100 countries are expected to participate in what will be the biggest Muaythai event ever staged.

HE General Pichitr was quoted as saying he is delighted that so many countries are coming to Bangkok to participate in this event, and now that Muaythai has been included in GAISF under IFMA, it truly has become Olympic mainstream, and announced that the President of GAISF has accepted the invitation to attend the Championship.

WMC President General Chetta Thanajaro stated that this event will be a great opportunity to take Muaythai to another level, and that the event will take Thailand to the world and the world to Thailand, with His Majesty’s birthday celebrations giving all participants a chance to join the whole Kingdom in celebration.

Dr Sakchye Tapsuwan, the President of IFMA, outlined that there will be many activities in this year’s Championship – male, female and junior Muaythai competition, as well as the 2nd World Aerobic Muaythai Championships and a Muay Boran Championship.

Dr Sakchye also briefed the press on all recent IFMA developments, especially as IFMA just returned from the IOC, Summer & Winter Olympics and GAISF meeting in Beijing.

The General Secretary, Stephan Fox, advised that 80 countries have already confirmed participation, and that breaking the 100 country mark will show that Muaythai with no doubt has become a true member of the Olympic family with its inclusion in GAISF, and recalled that one year ago His Royal Highness The Crown Prince of Thailand granted an audience to the President of GAISF and delegates from IFMA and the WMC to congratulate them on the wonderful news of inclusion in GAISF, and urged everyone to work towards Olympic recognition.

The President of the December 5th Foundation, Dr Charin Suankaew, gave a wonderful speech, calling it an honour for Thailand to have 100 Muaythai loving countries come to join the celebrations for His Majesty, together with the President of GAISF and many other IOC members, and explained that the finals will be held at Sanam Luang in front of hundreds of thousands of people.

Preparations for the Championships are already in full steam, and this is set to be the Muaythai event of all events, for which many spectators will travel to Thailand.