The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Thailand Foundation, the Royal Thai Embassies in Santiago, Brasilia and Mexico, organised a Muaythai Roadshow in Chile, Brazil and Mexico during 26 April - 12 May 2018 with Muaythai athletes coached by Mr. Wittawat Ka-som (Kru Din) from Lanna Fighting Muaythai Training Camp and Thepbodin Wittaya Chiang Mai School.  The group was led by Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, Director-General of the Department of Information, in Mexico, and by Mrs. Makawadee Sumitmor, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information, together with Mr. Theerathep Promvongsanon, Director of Thailand Foundation, in Chile and Brazil.  

          The Roadshow started in Chile on 26 April 2018 and ended on 30 April 2018. Muay Boran was performed at the “All Things Thai Fair,” hosted by H.E. Mrs. Sarikarn Pholmani, Ambassador of Thailand to Chile at the Cultural Foundation of Provindencia in Santiago.  The Muaythai team also conducted Wai-Kru demonstrations, Muay Boran performances and Muaythai workshops for beginners and trainers at various institutions namely (1) University of Santiago (2) The Olympic Entertainment Centre (3) Sports Centre of Viña del Mar Province and (4) Infantry School of San Bernardo City, where the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information gave an opening speech. The aforesaid activities were warmly received by over 1,000 Chileans. The Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information also met with Mr. Miguel Ángel Mujica Brain, President of the National Olympic Committee of Chile, to discuss ways and means to bring Muaythai towards the Olympic Games, hopefully at the 2024 Paris Games.

          During 1 – 5 May 2018, the Roadshow was successfully held in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo under the leadership of H.E. Mr. Surasak Suparat, Ambassador of Thailand to Brazil, together with the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information and the Director of Thailand Foundation. The activities included: (1) workshops organised in collaboration with the Brazilian Confederation of Traditional Muaythai (CBMTT) for Muaythai trainers at Vila Olímpica da Maré in Rio de Janeiro, and for Muaythai enthusiasts at the Federal Institute of São Paolo (IFSP); (2) a Muaythai training for the Fight for Peace’s martial arts instructors organised in collaboration with the Fight for Peace Organization in a favela in Rio de Janeiro; (3) a Muay Boran performance on “Cozinha do Bork”, which is a well-known cooking and variety television show in Brazil, broadcasted on BAND TV channel; (4) a Muay Boran performance at the Thai Festival organised by the Royal Thai Embassy at the Legislative Assembly of the State of São Paolo.  The Ambassador, together with the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information, also met with Mr. Marco Antônio La Porta, Vice-president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, and Mr. Carlos Camacho, President of CMBTT, to discuss possible cooperation on Muaythai, as well as to seek support on bringing Muaythai towards the Olympic Games.  Muaythai is already the most popular martial arts in Brazil with Muaythai training camps in 22 out of 27 states being members of CMBTT, and over 600,000 local Muaythai practitioners.  

          During 6 – 8 May 2018, H.E. Ms. Rommanee Kananurak, Ambassador of Thailand to Mexico, together with the Director-General of the Department of Information, and the Director of Thailand Foundation, led the Muaythai Team to conduct activities in Mexico City as follows: (1) Wai-Kru demonstration and Muay Boran performance at the Thai Festival hosted by the Royal Thai Embassy at Plaza Ángel Salas, Centro Cultural del Bosque.  The Director-General of the Department of Information delivered an opening speech while Kru Din gave a brief talk on Muaythai before the performance, which was attended by hundreds of Mexicans; (2) a two-day workshop organised in cooperation with the Mexican - Thai Muaythai Association with focus on Muaythai moves, Muay Boran, self-defense techniques, as well as how to wrap hands with twisted hemp rope when practicing Muay Boran, at La Galeria de Las Estrellas shopping centre in Mexico City.  The two-day workshop was attended by over 500 Muaythai athletes and enthusiasts.  The Thai Ambassador and the Director-General of the Department of Information also met with Mr. Carlos Padilla Becerra, President of the Olympic Committee of Mexico, who agreed to consider rendering support on bringing Muaythai towards the Olympic Games.

          On 11 May 2018, the Director of Thailand Foundation led the Muaythai team to perform Muay Boran at the opening ceremony of the IFMA World Muaythai Championship 2018, organised by the Federación Mexicana de Muaythai (FEMEM) and International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA) at the Grand Oasis hotel in Cancun, Mexico. There were more than 700 participants from 73 countries.

          The Muaythai Roadshow aims at fostering Thailand’s international relations especially at the people-to-people level.  The Roadshow also supports the government’s policy in bringing Muaythai towards the Olympic Games. As regards the latter objective, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cooperates with the Thai authorities concerned such as the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, and IFMA, the only International Muaythai Federation recognised by the International Olympic Committee.