April 3rd- A Big Day for MUAYTHAI: Muaythai Towards IOC Campaign Launch
Muaythai is going for IOC recognition. It has been a long road but April 3rd will mark another historic day in the history and future of muaythai. The World Governing Body for Professional Muaythai (WMC), the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA), recognised by SportAccord, the Olympic Council of Asia and the Amateur Muaythai Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage have joined forces to officially apply for IOC recognition and membership. The WMC was established in 1995 under the directive of the Royal Thai Government to foster and promote the sport and art of muaythai. The Royal Thai Government is in full support of the IOC recognition process and the Prime Minister of Thailand has donated a special cup to the event and will be part of the event, together with the Deputy Prime Minister, Tourism & Sports Minister and Culture Minister. The President of the Thai NOC, SAT and many other government departments will be joining as VIPs.
IFMA is the World Federation to promote amateur muaythai to the highest level and has been a partner of the WMC since its inauguration. General Pichitr Kullavanijaya, Privy Councillor of His Majesty the King, the honorary President of the WMC and the President of the Amateur Muaythai Association of Thailand which is under Royal Patronage, is also the President of IFMA. Muaythai under IFMA is included in many multi-sports games, was recognised by the Olympic Council of Asia in 1998, and with an overwhelming majority vote in 2006, was included in SportAccord, a partner of the IOC, the umbrella organisation for all sports. Muaythai under IFMA is also part of the World Combat Games, also under patronage of the IOC, in which fifteen Olympic and non-Olympic combat sports work together under the umbrella of SportAccord. IFMA is the only federation which can apply for IOC membership and inclusion in other important multi-sports games, for example, the World Games or University Games.
A special gala event will be held and attended by the President of SportAccord, Mr. Hein Verbruggen, the President of the International World Games Association, Mr. Ron Froehlich, and IOC member Dr. C. K. Wu, who is also the President of AIBA, along with many others. These distinguished visitors highlight the respect and recognition muaythai has achieved within the international sporting community.
The event will also launch the official campaign ‘Sport is Your Gang’ in conjunction with Peace and Sport, partner organisation of the IOC, an important initiative to use sport as a tool to help troubled youth find a place in the world sporting family. The gala event will start live on Thai TV April 3rd at 21:00 in one of Bangkok’s most beautiful halls, the Bangkok Convention Centre, a five-star venue for a five-star event.
