Yabuli, China, February 6, 2025: Thailand’s bid to raise the awareness of winter sports back home has received a huge shot in the arm with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra among the VVIPs attending the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China on Friday, February 7.
Prime Minister Shinawatra’s role as top cheerleader for Thailand will be a boost to the 87-strong athlete contingent whose realistic goal in Harbin (ice events) and Yabuli (snow events) will be to raise media profile for winter sports back home.
“Our main target is to try and raise awareness for winter sports back home, and develop sports like skiing and skating among the youth. We get a lot of help but need more,” said Taratip ‘Tony’ Chantawat, Deputy Secretary General of the Thai delegation, who is also the Deputy Secretary of the Thailand Ski and Snowboard Association.
Tony Chantawat is in Yabuli – 200 kilometres from Harbin - where the snow sports events are being held. He has pinned his hopes on a couple of athletes to win medals – cross-country skier Mark Chanloung and freestyle skier Paul Vieuxtemps.
“Mark competed at the last two Winter Olympics, 2018 Pyeongchang and 2022 Beijing, and is bidding to make it three-in-a-row by qualifying for the 2026 Games in Italy. It will be tough. He has a 60 per cent chance. Paul is also an Olympian.
“While winning a medal, or finishing on the podium at these Games, doesn’t automatically qualify an athlete to the 2026 Winter Olympics, a good performance will boost his world ranking points and this will help in the qualification process,” explained Tony.
Meanwhile, the arrival of Prime Minister Shinwatra on her first official visit to China from February 5-8 is a massive boost. She will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing then travel north to attend the AWG opening ceremony in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, at the invitation of Prime Minister Li Qiang.
Winning a medal in Harbin might be a bridge too far for the Thai athletes, but as far as raising the profile of winter sport is concerned half the battle is already won with the Thai Prime Minister’s presence in Harbin.