This year’s IFMA Royal World Cup promises to be an event competed at the highest level with elite athletes in all categories from juniors to seniors from all five continents. What makes this championships so special is the honour bestowed by Thailand’s Royal Family of an unprecedented 4 Royal Trophies for the most outstanding athletes in the Senior & Junior Male & Female divisions. The trophies include the King’s Cup going to the most outstanding male senior athlete, Queen’s Cup going to the most outstanding female senior athlete, the Prince’s Cup for the best junior male and Princess’s Cup for the best junior female.

Additionally and most importantly for the top level athletes, the event is the kick off of The World Games 2017 qualifiers. All gold medallists in the divisions included in the official programme of the Wroclaw edition of TWG will automatically qualify for a spot in these games. These outstanding athletes, enter into the fold of the Olympic Movement through the privilege of participating in an event under patronage of the IOC.

With a record 102 countries participating with some 2,000 athletes, officials, supporters and delegates, this evening’s Opening Ceremony promises to be spectacular and will be based on cultural understanding, unity, respect and friendship.

Presided over by the representatives of the Prime Minister of Thailand, representatives from Sport and Tourism and Culture Ministry, representatives from the International Olympic Committee, FISU, TAFISA and the 23 representatives of AIMS, representatives from over 60 embassies it will be an event for the athletes and the youth of the world. The International World Games Association will be represented by CEO, Mr Joachim Gossow.

History will be made when the Royal Guards will march in with the four Royal Trophies – His Majesty the King’s Trophy, Her Majesty the Queen’s Trophy, His Royal Highness the Prince’s Trophy and Her Royal Highness Princess Sirinthorn’s Cup, so for Thailand it shows the importance of this truly Royal event.

The rest of the opening ceremony is based on the youth of the world, the torch of life as muaythai is passed on from one generation to another. The event will be televised for around the world primetime live on Thai TV and no doubt there will be many smiling faces of the youth of the world.

Having served as the main arena for the Asian Games and Asian Football Competitions before, the Thailand National Stadium will host the 2015 IFMA Royal World Cup. Located in close vicinity to the official hotel the National Stadium presents a great logistical solution benefiting all stakeholders and observing the sustainability policies IFMA has taken as a rule for each event.

This is the second time IFMA will use the National Stadium after holding the very successful Muaythai University World Cup which has written muaythai history gaining muyathai official recognition by FISU. Muaythai has taken a strong position in the world sports community and the Royal World Cup promises to be another firm step for muaythai to achieve holding yet another successful world-class event.