OCA MEETING
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has backed Thailand to host the Asian Beach Games, the Martial Art Games and the Youth Asian Games, Gen Yutthasak Sasiprapha, president of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand (NOCT), said yesterday. ''We want to host the three Games and the OCA is happy and supports us,'' Gen Yutthasak said after a meeting with OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahd Al-Sabah.
Gen Yutthasak said Thailand initially planned to host the 5th Asian Beach Games in 2016 but the OCA president wanted the kingdom to organise the event in Phuket in 2014.
According to the Thai Olympic chief, the OCA president believes Thailand have all required facilities to organise the inaugural Martial Art Games likely to take place next year.
The Youth Asian Games are expected to be held in Bangkok after Singapore won the right to host the first Youth Olympics in 2010.
Gen Yutthasak said that the NOCT would send a letter of intention to the Tourism and Sports Ministry for cabinet approval. After that, NOCT will ask for official confirmation from the OCA.
Gen Banchan Marinpong, chief of staff to the NOCT president, said that Thailand had often been asked to host many inaugural events because of their vast experience.
''Thailand are well-known for hosting sporting events,'' he said. ''It is not surprising that the OCA wants us to host the three events.''
Source: The Bangkok Post'