His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Teepangkara Rasmichoti (The Prince of Muaythai) granted a private audience in support of the muaythai Towards Olympic Recognition campaign.
WMC and IFMA launched the campaign together with the Royal Thai government with the objective of acquiring IOC recognition for muaythai.
The delegation was led by H.E. General Pichitr Kullavanijaya, Privy Councillor to His Majesty the King and included the following delegates -Maj. Gen. Sanan Kajornprasert, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand; General Chetta Thanajaro, President of the WMC; General Yuttasak Sasiprapa, President of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand; Mr. Weera Rojanapojanarat, Permanent Secretary of National Culture Commission; Dr. Nat Indrapana, IOC Member; Mr. Peerawit Suwannaprathet, Deputy Director General of Department of Information; Mr. Kanokphan Chulakasem, Governor of Sport Authority of Thailand; Mr. Thaweesak Dejdecho, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Bangkok Metropolis; Dr. Sakchye Tapsuwan, President of IFMA; Mr. Kajorn Prowsri, Vice President of WMC; Mr. Stephan Fox, General Secretary of IFMA; Mr. Kritpong Banpha, Executive Committee Member of WMC.
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn encouraged all parties to tender their best effort for the success of this quest.
Under the directive of the Royal Thai government and with the full support from the WMC, IFMA will be the body responsible to direct this campaign.
IFMA, the world governing body for amateur muaythai, has been a member of GAISF/SportAccord since 2006; hence IFMA is qualified for IOC application.
Presently muaythai has been included into a number of IOC recognised Games, for example, Arafura Games, TAFISA Games, Asian Indoor Games and in August this year, muaythai will also be represented in the SportAccord Combat Games in Beijing, under the patronage of the IOC.
Following the encouragement from His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, a workshop will be established and a “Road map for IOC Recognition” will be introduced to all personnel involved.
The upcoming SportAccord Convention 2010 will be held in Dubai. The convention covers the Congress and General Assemblies of over 100 international sports federations and their related associations. 1,500 leading representatives from international sport community are given an opportunity to come together on a global scale, in an exclusive and authoritative networking environment, to build relationships, share knowledge and develop ideas.
For the 4th consecutive year, IFMA will attend this convention as one of the exhibitors in order to promote all aspects of muaythai to the international sport community.
