Bangkok, Thailand, June 3, 2022: OCA Executive Board member Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul combined sport and art in a recent exhibition on the sidelines of two major badminton events in Bangkok.
Madame Khunying Patama, who is Chair of the OCA Culture Committee and an IOC member, said it was an honour to play host to the Total Energies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2022 and the Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand Open 2022.
“What gives us additional achievement is the success of the art exhibition entitled ‘The Beauty of Opportunity’ aimed at supporting ex-prisoners in their return to society,” said Madame Khunying, who is Deputy President of the Badminton World Federation.
On the initiative of Madame Khunying, the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ) collaborated with the Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT) on this art exhibition. The project was proposed to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and allowed to be presented amid international tournaments so as to deliver benefits to society with non-commercial purpose.
The "Beauty of Opportunity" exhibition featured watercolour paintings inspired by prisoners' stories and the importance of providing social-reintegration opportunities to people who had made mistakes in life. The stories of the prisoners were shared through productions of artists in various media including photography and street art.
“Apart from this art exhibition, the BAT has for many years organised badminton training programmes for juvenile delinquents. We provide coaches and trainers to teach badminton in juvenile observation and protection centers," she added.
“This is one effective method to help create good behaviour and give these juvenile delinquents a job opportunity after being released. The programs have been successful. Many of them have developed themselves and become professional athletes while others have worked as referees.
“It is like giving new hope and a new life to these youths. This reaffirms that sports are essential to both the body and the mind and, more importantly, sports can help build good people.”