Martial Arts Meeting in Thailand
Discusses Hosting the 1st recognized Martial Art Games

An initial meeting was recently held in Thailand, present were His Excellency the Privy Councillor to His Majesty the King of Thailand, Minister of Sports and Tourism, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Tourism and Sport, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Culture, Governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand, Governor of Sport Authority of Thailand, International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member of Thailand, President of the Olympic Committee of Thailand, Advisor to the President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), President of the World Muaythai Council (WMC), President of Amateur Muaythai Association of Thailand (AMTAT) under the patronage of His Royal Highness the Royal Crown Prince of Thailand, General Secretary of International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA), as well as representatives from other IOC and GAISF recognised martial arts existing in Thailand.

The first item of discussion was the inclusion of Muaythai, under IFMA, into GAISF.  This indeed was the greatest milestone for Muaythai and Thailand.  On this occasion, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Thailand granted audience to the President of GAISF and representatives from IFMA.

The second item of discussion was that GAISF supported by the  IOC, is planning the 1st World Martial Art Games for all the IOC and GAISF recognized martial arts. Only national Muaythai federations affiliated with IFMA will be eligible to enter athletes into these games for the sport of Muaythai.

Thailand will set up an ad-hoc committee to attend the next Sport Accord which will be held in Beijing this April, as it will be here that Thailand will submit for nomination as host country for the World Martial Art Games.  It will be a difficult task ahead as there are other eligible countries aiming to host this prestigious martial art event.

Muaythai, under IFMA, has finally secured its place in the world recognized sporting association and has been invited, for the first time, as a full member to attend this significant meeting.