THE Sports Authority of Thailand said this evening (Aug. 19) that it has just received an urgent email from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) stating that the sixth Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (Aimag) set to be held in Bangkok and Chonburi during Nov. 21-30, 2024 has been cancelled because the budget was not channelled on time, Naewna newspaper and Amarin TV said.
Dr. Kongsak Yodmanee, Sports Authority of Thailand’s governor, said this email also stated that there was too little time left to arrange the event.
“However, OCA is still open to the possibility that if Thailand still wants to host this event, it could propose to do so after Saudi Arabia has hosted it in 2025,” he said.
There have been rumours that this tournament could be cancelled over budget issues, including speculation that 14 sports would be cut to meet the budget available just three months before the tournament was to take place even though athletes in various countries including Thailand have trained and prepared for the competition.
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Top and Front Page: Athletes competing in Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. Photos: Facebook page
Insert: Dr. Kongsak Yodmanee. Photo: Naewna
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