Bangkok, Thailand, November 13, 2022: The Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia, Husain Al Musallam, has praised the role of Thailand in promoting and developing the Olympic sports movement over seven decades.
Addressing the 800 runners at the Asian Games Fun Run at the Rajamangala National Stadium on Sunday afternoon, Mr Al Musallam said that Thailand in general, and Bangkok in particular, had a long history of hosting OCA events. This includes four Asian Games - in 1966, 1970, 1978 and 1998.
“I would like to express my deepest thanks and congratulations to the Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand and to the President of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand for their good preparations for the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022,” he said, before helping to signal the start of the 5km fun run around the SAT complex.
“As well as the Asian Games Fun Run, we are also here for the Coordination Committee meeting for the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, which will take place in Bangkok and Chonburi province in November 2023.
“The Olympic Council of Asia has full confidence in Thailand and the Thai people to host a successful Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games next year, and we thank them for the support of the Asian Olympic movement since the first Asian Games in 1951.”
The OCA Vice President for the 6th AIMAG, NOC Thailand Vice President Dato Seri Chaiyapak Siriwat, said the Fun Run served to promote not only the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China from September 23 to October 8, 2023, but also the 6th AIMAG in Thailand in November 2023. The AIMAG mascot, the Thai Fighting Parrot, even put in an appearance before the start of the Fun Run to add to the festive atmosphere.
With the Fun Run starting and finishing inside the Rajamangala National Stadium, organisers presented the top 50 with participation medals, observing gender equity in all aspects of the presentation.
The top three female and top three male athletes also received a winner’s medal, Hangzhou Asian Games mascot and certificate at a prize presentation ceremony.
A press conference followed the prize presentation and included a video message on preparations from the Deputy Secretary General of the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (HAGOC) and Deputy Mayor, Chen Weiqiang.
Mr Al Musallam said that sport stood for peace and that the Asian sports movement was “one family”, while the Fun Run brought together current athletes, former athletes and future athletes as well as promoting a healthy society. “We are here for health and hope,” he said.
The Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand, Dr. Gongsak Yodmani, said the Fun Run encouraged people of all ages to exercise, especially after the pandemic, as exercise boosted immunity.
He reported that Thailand had prepared 1,313 athletes to take part in 48 sports disciplines at the 19th Asian Games next year, and that the SAT recognized the importance of exercise in society.
