Olympic Council Cites Funding Issues and Low Competitor Turnout
PUBLISHED: 20 Aug 2024 at 16:58
The government has taken a stance on the Olympic Council of Asia’s recent cancellation of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games set to take place in Bangkok and Chon Buri this November. The council’s decision was attributed to concerns over funding and the lack of confirmed competitors in 14 out of the 38 planned categories.
Jirawat Arunyakanon, an adviser to the Tourism and Sports Minister, clarified the minister’s position on social media, asserting that there is no intent to cancel the events scheduled from November 21-30.
The minister is reviewing the remaining budget of 1.3 billion baht allocated for the games due to a decrease in sports and competitor numbers. “The review is solely for ensuring that the budget, exceeding 1 billion baht, is allocated transparently and effectively,” said Jirawat.
Initially, the total budget for the event was set at 2.29 billion baht, anticipating participation from around 14,000 athletes across 38 sports. However, the Olympic Council of Asia reported that as of last Saturday, only 1,938 athletes had registered across 24 sports.
The government remains prepared to host the games, emphasizing the need for fiscal responsibility to ensure taxpayer funds are utilized efficiently. Jirawat also mentioned that approximately 800-900 million baht from the budget had already been disbursed, and Minister Sermsak has requested a review by the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the State Audit Office regarding the allocation of these funds.
The minister is keen to confirm that the expenditures have indeed been directed toward enhancing athlete training, ensuring proper use of public funds.
