Muaythai is a combat sport and martial art which integrates sport, cultural understanding, and education. Already recognized by SportAccord, the Olympic Council of Asia, the International World Games Association, and TAFISA, another world sporting organization, Fédération internationale du sport universitaire (FISU) has recognized Muaythai and included it in their World University Championship sport program.

The first FISU Muaythai University World Cup, staged two months ago in Bangkok, was held from 16th to the 23rd of March and was hailed as a major success. Personal congratulatory messages were sent to IFMA from FISU President Mr Claude Louis Gallien, IOC Exec Board Member and AIBA President Ching Kuo Wu, ANOC and OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, SportAccord President Marius Vizer, IOC member and IWGA President JJosé Perurena López, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan H.E. Karim Massimov, UN Women Regional Programme Manager, Ending Violence Against Women Mrs Anna Karin Jatfors, the Prime Minister of Thailand H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha (Ret.), and so many more leaders from the sporting world.

Today, we would like to thank FISU one more time for their trust in IFMA and Muaythai. We will promise that with Muaythai, we have a sport and an international federation which will continue to use the sport and cultural art form to make a positive contribution to society.