The IFMA 2016 World Championship had a spectacular opening with a fantastic cultural program bringing together the mother land of the sport and the host country Sweden. The Thai part had some classical folk dance followed by a Muaythai demonstration team from Thailand and then over 300 kids performed in a musical, dancing and singing performance bringing down the house with a performance by Astrid Lindgren who is best known for
children’s book series featuring Pippi Longstocking, Emil i Lönneberga, Karlsson-on-the-Roof, and the Six Bullerby Children (Children of Noisy Village in the US), as well as the children’s fantasy novels Mio min Mio, Ronia the Robber’s Daughter and The Brothers Lionheart.
The Mayor of Jonkoping Acko Ankarberg Johansson made an emotional speech welcoming the locals and officials to the city. The representative of the Swedish sports federation spoke about the unity of sport while the deputy sports minister of Thailand Prof. Dr Chavanee Toangroach spoke on behalf of the Royal Thai government and the president of IFMA addressing the athletes as it is their time to shine in this sporting and cultural exchange event.
The chairman of the LOC had a dream, the former president of the Swedish muaythai association said that this vision was made many years ago to bring the World Championship to Sweden and was truly achieved.
