Manama, Bahrain, June 5, 2024: Organisers of the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games reassured delegates at the Olympic Solidarity/OCA Regional Forum in Bahrain that Bangkok’s notorious traffic jams would not have an adverse impact on athlete transportation at the AIMAG this November.
In his presentation to delegates from 26 National Olympic Committees from South, Central and West Asia on the opening day of the forum, Dr. Hilary Meechai Inwood, a senior official of the Sports Authority of Thailand and a member of the AIMAG Organising Committee, becalmed worries over transport in Bangkok during the November 21-30 Games.
“The plan is to put athletes in hotels close to competition venues, where they can even go to the venue by foot if they wish. Hotels will not be more than 15 minutes away from competition venues,” Dr. Inwood explained.
A number of NOCs had approached the OCA expressing their worries over transport difficulties in Bangkok’s much-maligned traffic.
“Many NOCs have asked us for clarity on this aspect and requested free transportation for athletes and officials on Bangkok’s Skytrain network,” said OCA Deputy Director General Vinod Kumar Tiwari, the moderator at the forum.
The question was also raised by the delegate from Kuwait NOC, who asked if AIMAG organisers would consider giving free travel passes for athletes on the Skytrain – Bangkok’s elevated rapid transit system.
“We will consider this but, at the moment, it is a question of security for the athletes. We will not be able to provide this if they start using the public Skytrain,” Dr. Inwood said as he fielded questions after his presentation.
Dr. Inwood also reiterated that the accreditation card would not be valid as a visa to enter Thailand due to a new law. “But by November, a lot of countries will have visa-free access to our country,” he said.
Dr. Inwood also took the delegates through key dates and deadlines for NOCs.
Among the other notable facts presented were:
· There will be 4,300 rooms for athletes in Bangkok and 1,800 rooms in Chonburi
· 36 sports plus two demonstration sports
· 26 sports in Bangkok and 10 in Chonburi.
