Press Conference by

H.E. Mr. Jakkapong Sangmanee

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand

Thursday 15 February 2024 at 11.00 hrs.

Press Conference Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The following are Press Pointers as summarized from the Press Conference given by H.E. Mr. Jakkapong Sangmanee, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand today (15 February 2024) regarding support for Thai athletes competing at the international level:

• Promoting sports is a top priority for the Thai government, and this includes supporting Thai athletes to compete at the international level. The Government, therefore, is ready to enhance our support to ensure and facilitate the participation of our athletes abroad at international sporting events.
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is committing to work with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to address procedural and logistical challenges faced by our athletes which may have affected their ability to attend and participate in international sporting events in the past.
• The Prime Minister has assigned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to work closely on such issues as visa applications. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand has already raised this particular issue with the Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), who is also fully on board to assist.
• The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand has assigned the Department of Consular Affairs to serve as focal point for the newly established “One Stop Service Centre”, which will assist Thai athletes with their applications for passports and visa-related issues. In sum:

1. Athletes coordinate with their affiliated sports association before submitting a request to SAT to provide support.
2. Once the request is verified and approved by SAT, the document is submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to help facilitate visa application processes, by issuing visa cover letters for athletes or relevant persons.
3. The Department of Consular Affairs also receives related documents and information from SAT regarding details of the sporting event, etc. to convey to the Royal Thai Embassies or Royal Thai Consulates-General, to provide support as appropriate.

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is mindful that Thai athletes attending international sporting events represent Thailand to the best of their capacities and talents. As such, they have and will continue to contribute significantly to the country’s image and reputation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs therefore, aims to enhance our support to Thai athletes through the establishment of the One Stop Service Centre in order to assist them in their professional sporting endeavours.

*  *  *  *  *

Cultural Diplomacy Division

15 February 2024