The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, in collaboration with the Royal Thai Embassy in Budapest, the Royal Thai Embassy in Prague, and the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Frankfurt, organised the Muaythai Roadshow in Croatia, Hungary, Czech, and Germany during 31 May – 14 June 2019. The Muaythai Roadshow was led by H.E. Mr. Chaisiri Anamarn, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and Mrs. Ruyaporn Sukontasap, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information together with 10 Muaythai athletes coached by Mr. Wittawat Ka-som (Master Din) from Lanna Fighting Muaythai Training Camp and Chiangmai Thepbodint School, Mr. Atapong Aumanan, promoter of Thai Fight Boxing, and Mr. Wijit Khiadsong, also known as Phayak-Samui (Look Jao Por Rong Tom), the current Thai Fight Champion. The Roadshow aimed at using Muaythai as a tool for cultural diplomacy to foster people-to-people contact as well as encouraging Muaythai to be widely practiced as an exercise and a self-defense art.

 

The Roadshow started in Zagreb, Republic of Croatia, during 2 – 3 June 2019 led by the Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and H.E. Mr. Jakkrit Srivali, Ambassador of Thailand to Hungary and Croatia. The Muaythai team conducted a Wai-Kru demonstration to pay respects to the masters, Muay Boran or Ancient Muaythai performances, workshops for Muaythai trainers and the representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Croatia at Zagreb Yokkao Muay Thai Training Center. On this occasion, sports equipments were presented to the representative of the Ministry of Defense of Croatia to be used for future practice. Besides the aforementioned activities, the demonstration of self-defense and martial arts conducted by Muaythai team in a public park in Zagreb were warmly received by the Croatian attendees.

 

During 5 – 7 June 2019, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the Royal Thai Embassy in Budapest led the Muaythai team to conduct Wai-Kru demonstration, Muay Boran performances, workshop for Muaythai trainers and the representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Hungary at Thai Boxing Academy. The opening ceremony was presided over by the Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. On this occasion, the Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. the Ambassador of Thailand and the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information presented the sports equipments to the representative of the Ministry of Defense of Hungary. The workshop was enjoyed by the attendees and also attended by the local media. Moreover,  on the same day, the Thai delegation had a discussion with Mr. Károly Dudok, Deputy Minister of Ministry Education, Youth and Sport, at Thai Boxing Academy. The Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand referred to the role of Muaythai trainers and promotion of Muaythai in Budapest as a means to encourage Muaythai practice for exercise and self-defense. The representative of Hungary thanked Thailand for training Muaythai trainers and the Hungarian military and for the support of Muaythai in Hungary. Both sides also agreed to promote Thai culture through Muaythai and support activities in bringing the sport into the Olympic Games.

 

During 8 – 10 June 2019, the Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affair of Thailand, H.E. Mrs. Ureerat Chareontoh, Ambassador of Thailand to the Czech Republic together with the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information, led the Muaythai team and Muaythai trainers to conduct a performance in the fourth Festival of Embassies: Food and Culture at the Prague 6 Municipality Office at the Vitezne Namesti. There were more than 40 countries holding activities at the Festival that saw than 20,000 participants. On this occasion, the Muaythai team conducted Wai-Kru demonstration, Muay Boran performances, and a workshop for the participants which attracted widespread attention by both the audiences and the participants. On 9 June 2019, Muaythai trainers and Muaythai athletes attended the “Kids Muaythai Challenge in Prague” held by Czech Muay Thai Association (C.M.T.A.) at Multifunctional Hall TJ. Spoje Praha in Prague. The Muaythai team demonstrated Muaythai Boran and conducted a workshop to instruct exercise techniques to more than 100 Czech youths. The Muaythai team also demonstrated Muay Boraan at Lucerna Palac, an important ancient building in Prague. The demonstration of Muay Boran attracted a lot of attention from both Czech and foreign audiences and also served as activities to promote Thai culture to the public. 

 

On 10 June 2019, the Thai delegation had a meeting with Mr. Roman Kumpošt, Vice President of the Czech Olympic Committee. The Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand highlighted that Muaythai is a sport that can represent Thai art and culture and can be practiced as an exercise and a self-defense. Thailand sought support from the Czech Olympic Committee in encouraging Muaythai to be included in the selection of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. On the same day, the delegation had a meeting with Mr. Karel Kovár, the Deputy Minister of Education, Youth, Sports of the Czech Republic, who mentioned the support from Czech Republic through C.M.T.A. for 200,000 EUR in hosting activities that engage amateur Thai boxers and an annual Muaythai competition. Currently, there are 3,000 professional Muaythai athletes and 60 Muaythai trainers in Czech Republic, all of which were trained in Thailand.

 

On 12 June 2019, the Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and Ms. Pannabha Chandraramya, Consul-General at Frankfurt together with the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information, led the Muaythai team to conduct a Muaythai workshop, Wai-kru demonstration and Muay Boran at Koi Gym, Frankfurt, Germany. The German audiences were very impressed with the Muaythai demonstration. The event also attracted attention from the local media.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has annually conducted the Muaythai Roadshow abroad in order to promote Thai culture, strengthen people-to-people relations as well as bringing Muaythai as a sport in the Olympic Games.