Thailand to bid for 2016 Olympics

[stevem]

Thailand to bid for 2016 Games?

BANGKOK: -- Flushed with pride after its most successful Olympics with three gold medals in the bag, Thailand plans to bid for the 2016 Games, according to a newspaper report yesterday.

'The plan will cost many billions of baht but the price is worth paying,' Tourism and Sports Minister Sontaya Kunplome was quoted as saying in The Nation newspaper.

Two Thai women won weightlifting golds in Athens - sparking an immediate boom at health clubs across the country - while boxer Manus Boonjumnong added another gold yesterday morning (Singapore time).

A parade will be held in Bangkok for its returning athletes with medal winners awarded handsome cash prizes.

But any bid by Thailand to host the Games in 2016 would be fraught with difficulty - notably because of traffic problems in the Thai capital - despite the kingdom's growing confidence through surging economic growth and its increasing role on the regional stage.

Thailand hosted the Asian Games in 1998 but its latest attempt for a major sporting coup - a government-backed bid to invest in English Premiership football club Liverpool, has failed to bear fruit.

But yesterday, all of Thailand cheered when Manus became the country's only male athlete to win a gold at the Athens Games.

The moment he became Olympic champion was almost too much for him. After his victory, Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej Boonjumnong called to congratulate him.

Manus listened for a few minutes, so emotional that he was able to only give one-word answers to his king.

'I fought for my king, who urged me to be strong in my final bout,' said the boxer, who beat Cuban Yudel Johnson 17-11 in a light-welterweight bout.

'I dedicate the gold medal to my family and to all the people of Thailand. And, of course, to the king.'

He made sure the powerful Cuban team would not tie their record of seven golds in Barcelona by beating Johnson in a tactical bout that had the Cuban team and its fans upset.

The Cubans booed when Manus took the podium to accept his gold medal, still upset over the scoring of the bout.

Manus, who had urged fans back home to watch him fight on television at his family's home to encourage the spirits of the house to help him win, built up a lead in the early rounds and protected it in the fourth round.

The victory continued a streak of three straight Olympics where Thais have won gold.

-- AFP, AP

[dawsey]

Can you imagine running the marathon in the heat and humidity of Bangkok??
It would make the Athens marathon look like an afternoon stroll

[Tarzan]

Originally Posted by dawsey

Can you imagine running the marathon in the heat and humidity of Bangkok??
It would make the Athens marathon look like an afternoon stroll

I can picture all the tuktuk guys driving up to the runners asking if they want to see pingpong shows...

[K2]

They should wait for 2020 games as since will have been in Asia (2008- Beijing) then unlikley to be awarded again to Asia until been to Europe and America's.

Would think Thai's be great hosts for the Games .... no empty stadiums and great hospitality - the athletes would certainly love it! As far as marathon could always run it in Chaing Mai.

Good luck to Thailand - I reckon they deserve it!

[stevem]

And pole dancing could be introduced as a sport

[K2]

Had another thot on the marathon ....they can use the new subway tunnels!!

[IRISH JONNY]

I Reckon I Would Win Gold At Go Cart Racing And Golf...........haha.....
Where Are You Hakan?
Jonny

[Tarzan]

Originally Posted by IRISH JONNY

I Reckon I Would Win Gold At Go Cart Racing And Golf...........haha.....
Where Are You Hakan?
Jonny

The only way for you to win is if your friend the priest interfear with us..