Thailand Buzz - Thailand should be proud, say officials

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Posted by sim100 77 days ago (http://www.bangkokpost.com)
Category: Sports | Tags: 2008 beijing olympic torch bangkok

Olympic torch arrives in the kingdom

Kittipong Thongsombat

Thailand should be proud of being part of the greatest Games by greeting its torch relay today, according to Thai Olympic officials.

The 2008 Beijing Olympic torch arrived in Bangkok yesterday with Jiang Xiao Yu, senior Chinese Olympic official holding the torch and leading the Chinese staff. They received a warm welcome from Thai officials led by Gen Yutthasak Sasiprapha, president of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand.

The Beijing Games torch, which is 75 centimetres long and weighs 985 grams, will passalond the 10.6 km route from Chinatown Gate to the Royal Plaza. The two-hour relay will start at 3 pm, the first bearer being deputy city clerk Anant Siripasaraporn with the final leg being run by Paveena Thongsuk, a 2004 Olympics weightlifting gold medallist.

Nat Intrapana, member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to Thailand, said that the torch relay was very significant and meant a lot to the Games. It showed that biggest sporting event of humankind was about to take place.

"To welcome the torch is to support the Games and honour the host," said Dr Nat. The Olympics take place in Beijing from August 8-24.

"It also promotes the Games to 205 countries around the world."

The IOC member said that Bangkok was among 21 cities honoured by host China to join the 97,000-km torch relay.

Maj Gen Charuek Areerachkaran, secretary of the Olympic Committee of Thailand, said that it was the first time for Thailand to be a part of the Olympic torch relay since the relay made its debut in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.

The Thais once welcomed the 1988 Seoul Olympic flame at Don Mueang airport but it was not part of the relay.

China officials arrive with the Olympic torch in Bangkok early yesterday morning. — JETJARAS NA RANONG

Gen Charuek said that Thailand should be especially proud of being selected as one of the Olympic torch destinations around the world. In Southeast Asia, only Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia had the opportunity to be part of the traditional ceremony.

"We could not ask for the torch relay to be held in Thailand." Charuek said. "It was China which made the decision so we should be proud of that."

To get a wide variety of people to play a part in the ceremony, the Thai organisers have 80 torch bearers from different sections of the community. All of them are well recognised for their valuable work to society.

Among them are Sub-Lieutenant Vichai Suriyuth and Kru Nuannoi Timkul. Vichai is famous for his dedication to tree-planting. It is estimated he has planted more than five-million trees so far.

"Tree planning is the best form of merit making." he said. "It is sustainable and useful for generations."

Educator Kru Nuannoi has a small orphanage which helps educate poor children. "I teach them to be good people," she said. "Although we are not able to choose our birth place, we can choose whether to be a good person or not."
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