PHUKET: Thailand could be a candidate to host the first World Beach Games in 2017, according to Minister for Tourism and Sport, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul.
She has been on Phuket where the Asian Beach Games are being held until November 23.
''Personally, I would like Thailand to raise their level from staging the Asian Beach Games to next host the World Beach Games," the minister told website insidethegames.biz after attending a medals presentation.
''It will be a good opportunity for Thailand to show its full potential to the world.''
Whether a country that had previously held the Asian Beach Games would be considered for the first World Beach Games could be an issue.
Several cities have already expressed interest, officials say, since a motion for the World Beach Games to go ahead was passed at last week's Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly in Bangkok.
The World Beach Games could be held as early as 2017. Backers say the concept is ideal for sports that with to showcase their appeal but so far fall short of becoming fully-fledged Olympic sports.
The World Beach Games would be positioned in the calendar without conflicting with the Olympic Games or football's World Cup. Games events are usually awarded to cities, not countries.
Given the facilities and the beaches, it would be difficult to imagine a world-class beach event in Thailand being held anywhere except Phuket.
The possibility of hosting an even larger event in three years could be the impetus to keep sunbeds and umbrellas from returning to the holiday island's most popular beaches, which look stunning without them.
According to the Games website: ''Safety will be a major concern to address if the nation is to host more major events, although security so far here at Phuket 2014 has been widely praised, with over 2000 police drafted in to provide additional protection, and with no breaches having been reported.''
She has been on Phuket where the Asian Beach Games are being held until November 23.
''Personally, I would like Thailand to raise their level from staging the Asian Beach Games to next host the World Beach Games," the minister told website insidethegames.biz after attending a medals presentation.
''It will be a good opportunity for Thailand to show its full potential to the world.''
Whether a country that had previously held the Asian Beach Games would be considered for the first World Beach Games could be an issue.
Several cities have already expressed interest, officials say, since a motion for the World Beach Games to go ahead was passed at last week's Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly in Bangkok.
The World Beach Games could be held as early as 2017. Backers say the concept is ideal for sports that with to showcase their appeal but so far fall short of becoming fully-fledged Olympic sports.
The World Beach Games would be positioned in the calendar without conflicting with the Olympic Games or football's World Cup. Games events are usually awarded to cities, not countries.
Given the facilities and the beaches, it would be difficult to imagine a world-class beach event in Thailand being held anywhere except Phuket.
The possibility of hosting an even larger event in three years could be the impetus to keep sunbeds and umbrellas from returning to the holiday island's most popular beaches, which look stunning without them.
According to the Games website: ''Safety will be a major concern to address if the nation is to host more major events, although security so far here at Phuket 2014 has been widely praised, with over 2000 police drafted in to provide additional protection, and with no breaches having been reported.''
Lets see if we can cope with walking before running K Kobkarn. Not surprising the official website has been praising its self- they are hardly going to say otherwise!
Posted by Mister Ree on November 17, 2014 17:39