The Labour Minister, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, supported the Thai Fight Tournament in Geneva, organized by the Chiangmai Muaythai Club. Ambassador Mrs. Supattra Srimaitreepitak and Minister Counselor on Labour, Ms. Angkhana Techakoment, and the Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations in Geneva attended the opening ceremony at the Palexpo Convention Center in Geneva.
Mr. Suchart said that the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister and Minister of Defence General Prayuth Chan-ocha, has a policy to promote soft power activities and is committed to promoting and supporting Muay Thai to be accepted internationally at the Asian Games and Olympic level sports competition. He also promotes Muay Thai as a soft power to drive the economy. On the Ministry of Labour’s part, it is organizing labour skill standards for Muay Thai trainers to promote Muay Thai trainers to be recognized internationally. This time, the Thai Fight Tournament in Geneva will promote the career of Thai boxing and Muay Thai trainers, spreading awareness on the preparation of labour standards for Muay Thai trainers by the Ministry of Labour as well.
Mr. Suchart added that due to traveling to attend the 110th Session of the International Labour Conference in June 2022, his delegation and he had the opportunity to meet Thai people in Switzerland. It informed him of the shortage of standardized Muay Thai trainers in foreign countries. Therefore, it has supported the organization of the Thai Fight Tournament in Geneva, this time with a budget of 800,000 Baht from many private sector supporters who recognize the importance of Muay Thai and want Muay Thai to be a profession that meets international standards. It is also an opportunity to spread awareness to foreigners about the implementation of labour skill standards for Muay Thai trainers by the Ministry of Labour. The event is a Thai boxing competition between four pairs of foreign amateur boxers and four pairs of foreign professional boxers. The fifth match is Fleury Sebastien, a professional Thai boxer from Switzerland, and Pakorn P.K. Saenchaimuaythaigym, a Thai boxer. There were about 700 spectators in the match.
“Today, Muay Thai is a martial art that continues to gain attention worldwide. The Ministry of Labour is ready to push forward the relevant operations so that Muay Thai will continue to be accepted internationally, ” concluded Mr. Suchat.
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Division of Public Relations
18 December 2022
