Muay Thai will be featured as a side program at the 2024 Olympic Games, being held in Paris between July 26 and-August 11, with the participation of more than 1,000 Muay Thai boxers from 24 countries on five continents, said Dr Sakchye Tapsuwan, president of the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA).
He hailed the event as a big step in the dreams of Thai people that Muay Thai will, one day, become an Olympic sport.
The five-day Muay Thai extravaganza will feature exhibitions and workshops of the Thai martial art, with the highlight scheduled for August 5th and 6th being bouts between boxers from 24 countries. A boxing ring will be set up especially for the event at Club France. World famous Muay Thai boxer Buakaw Banchamek will perform “wai khru”, a ritual to pay respects to teachers performed by all Muay Thai boxers before a fight.
Meanwhile, Stefan Fox, IFMA secretary-general, said that the federation has been recognised internationally, adding that it now has 152 associations across five continents.
Dr. Sakchye, also president of the Amateur Muaythai Association of Thailand, said that Thailand will send 13 weight classes of Muay Thai boxers to take part in the IFMA Senior World Championship 2024 in Greece, from May 31st to June 9th.
The weight classes are divided into seven for male boxers and six for female fighters.
Photo : International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA)
