A 3-day world festival, World Discovery, is taking place in beautiful Vichy, the heart of France. The event is a joint operation between the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Thailand, The Sport Authority of Thailand, the National Sports Development Fund of Thailand, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the City of Vichy, IFMA, the world governing body for Muaythai, FFKMDA, the national federation of Muaythai in France, the National Olympic Committee of France and many others.
His Excellency Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Tourism and Sports, Thailand, opened the event outlining the importance of Muaythai as a cultural artform and Thailand’s pride to the world. He further stated that this was a fantastic opportunity to showcase all the beauty Thailand has to offer as a tourist destination, Thai massage and certainly Muaythai as Thailand’s pride.
The event will see a 2-day workshop with Muaythai superstar, Superbon, who was a former World Games Champion, 5x IFMA World Champion and the list goes on, alongside Trainer Superstar Gae taking the Muaythai enthusiasts through a wonderful workout both as a cultural artform and sport.
There will be two days of Muaythai competition with Thailand vs France, to promote Muaythai towards the Olympics. The event will also launch the new platform to showcase Muaythai as Thailand’s cultural heritage and also as an IOC recognized sport in cooperation between the Ministry of Sport, the Sport Authority of Thailand, the National Sports Development Fund and the Tourism Authority of Thailand coming together towards one common goal.
The Governor of the Sport Authority of Thailand, Dr. Gongsak Yodmani, the National Sports Development Fund Manager, Supranee Guptasa, the Tourism Authority of Thailand Chairman, the Vice Governor Khun Tanukiat Janchum, the IFMA Secretary General, Stephan Fox, the President of the French Muaythai Federation (FFKMDA) and IFMA Executive Board Member and also member of the Executive Board of the French National Olympic Committee, Nadir Allouache, were all present.
The Madame Le Préfet from Vichy, Pascale Trumbach and the Mayor of Vichy, Frédéric Aguilera, all were present and a special gift was given together from the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, IFMA and the FFKMDA to continue the close cooperation between France and Thailand.
The President of the French Muaythai Federation, Nadir Allouache and Mr. Stephan Fox, together with the representatives of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport and the Sport Authority of Thailand gave certificates to all the participants in a beautiful ceremony.
IFMA must certainly thank the city of Vichy, FFKMDA, the French National Olympic Committee and certainly the Ministry of Tourism and Sport and all the agencies under the ministry for this cooperation towards taking Muaythai to even larger global recognition.
