Muaythai is a proud part of Thailand. Through Muaythai, the world has adopted the history and the old traditions and cultures of the art and sport, as Muaythai is a martial art in which the past is deem as equally important as the future. Students of all ages from different social structures learned to respect each other despite diverse races, religions and backgrounds. Muaythai has much to offer hence it is no surprise that Muaythai is practiced by people of young and old, rich and poor.

In the past decade Muaythai has made important steps towards the world recognition. With its inclusion in GAISF/SportAccord, Muaythai was truly accepted as a member of the world sport community and the Olympic mainstream. In the year 2006, Mr. Hein Verbruggen, the President of GAISF/SportAccord together with the IFMA World Executive Board were fortunate to be granted an audience for the first time with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasmi, His Royal Consort and His Royal Highness Prince Teepangkara Rasmichoti; to announce the wonderful news of the inclusion of Muaythai in GAISF/SportAccord, a partner of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

It has taken over ten years for the world community of Muaythai to acquire the international recognition. It was a delight to learn that international sports such as Football (FIFA) and Basketball (FIBA) have voted for Muaythai which resulted in the inclusion. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn expressed his remark of joy and requested for further achievement towards IOC recognition and a chance for Muaythai to be in the Olympic Games. Thus far Muaythai was included in the TAFISA World Sport For All Games and Arafura Games, both under the patronage of the IOC; and currently in the course of acquiring the IOC recognition.

Earlier this year, the WMC and IFMA Executive Board was greatly fortunate for the second time to be granted a private audience with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasmi, His Royal Consort and His Royal Highness Prince Teepangkara Rasmichoti. Leaded by the Privy Councilor to His Majesty the King of Thailand, General Pichitr Kullavanijaya, the group includes the President of IFMA, Dr. Sakchye Tapsuwan, WMC Vice President and IFMA General Secretary, Mr. Stephan Fox.

Mr. Fox was given permission to present a special gift to His Royal Highness Prince Teepangkara Rasmichoti and a title of the Prince of Muaythai. Mr. Fox stated that the Royal Family has always been a part of the sport and that the world Muaythai community feels a sense of inmost gratitude towards the support from the Royal Family of Thailand.

The Muaythai outfit and the title of the Prince of Muaythai presented to His Royal Highness Prince Teepangkara Rasmichoti is a true symbol as Muaythai is a sport and art for all people, from king to commoner. Children from around the world had worn Mongkol with pride and performed Wai Khru as beautiful as Thais. This evidently demonstrates that Muaythai has no boundary, it does not differentiate nationalities or religions and each person has innermost respect for one another.

Muaythai is not entirely about the sport or the art of fighting. With its profound traditions and values, Muaythai is also about respect, humanity and giving. The world Muaythai community has shown to the world with its Muaythai Against Drugs Campaign, charity initiatives and various projects have been established throughout the last several years to assist the victims from the growing numbers of unforeseen catastrophic events. For example, care packages were distributed via the Royal Foundation to the victims of the Tsunami in December 2004. Worldwide project to help street kids was well received in South Africa, Ukraine and Sweden. Most recently generous numbers of computers were donated to schools in Jamaica.

On behalf of all 128 member countries, the world leaders of the sport mutually convey their gratitude and the commitment from the international Muaythai community together with Thailand. In view to take the sport to the highest level towards Olympic recognition and will honor the code of respecting, fostering and promoting the values and traditions of Muaythai that were passed on from generations to generations both within Thailand and the world, for the benefit of the future athletes. Muaythai and IFMA is a proud member of Sportaccord and we promise to work hard to get IOC reckogniation -One World One Muaythai