The two-day course, designed by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) and the National Office of the Boxing Commission, delivered specific theory teachings relating to the national sport that are aligned with international standards.
The course is part of the government’s One Family One Soft Power (OFOS) policy whereby a target of one member per family is encouraged to develop their creative skillset in a variety of areas that highlight Thai culture, whether it be cooking, singing, designing, art, sports or others.
As many Thais are exposed to Muay Thai at a very young age, the government policy aims to encourage local residents to capitalise and upgrade their skills so as to be able to engage in the sport in a more specific manner and have the chance to earn a decent living.
The classroom teaching complemented physical teaching work conducted in selected gyms across the island to ensure students are fully versed on all aspects of the sport and thus qualified to teach the sport as a trainer. Additionally the course focused on the practicalities behind Muay Thai competition management, gym management and becoming an official Muay Thai referee.
Phuket Governor Sophon Sunwannarat oversaw the official launch ceremony on Wednesday at the Seabed Grand Hotel in Phuket Town. Once the course had concluded yesterday, he distributed certificates of recognition to all students who had attended.
Governor Sophon was joined at the course by General Orachai Boonsukjitseri from the Subcommittee for Driving the National Sports Industry at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and Damrong Chaisena, Director of SAT’s Phuket office.
Teaching the increasingly popular sport of Muay Thai in Phuket is considered a key component in the government’s ongoing soft power drive to attract increased tourists and revenue to the island.
The promotion of the country’s national sport was high on the agenda under former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who praised the numerous Muay Thai boxing camps in Phuket for showcasing Thailand’s internationally-recognised soft power, attracting long stays by visitors and distributing income on an official visit in August, prior to him being ejected from office for a violation of ethics.
Phuket in particular is internationally renowned for training and developing local and international talent with 43 officially registered Muay Thai camps across the island, including the famous Tiger Muay Thai and Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA gyms, while the island also boasts two top-class standard boxing stadiums in Patong Beach Boxing Stadium and Bangla Boxing Stadium.
A raft of local and international talent has either been based in Phuket or graced the various Muay Thai gyms here at some stage on their way to starring on the global stage through promotions such as the UFC and ONE Championship; Alexander Volkanovski, Anatoly Malykhin, Loma Lookboonmee, Rafael Fiziev, Petr Yan, Valentina Shevchenko, Celest Hansen and Israel Adesanya are just a handful of such examples.
The current Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was previously the deputy chairperson of the National Soft Power Strategy Committee under the Srettha government. Ms Paetongtarn confirmed in January that she is pushing to have Muay Thai become an Olympic sport and it is safe to assume that enhanced promotion of the sport under her tenure as PM will only continue.