Phuket prepares for regional sports contest

PHUKET TOWN: The local office of the Sports Authority of Thailand is currently putting together the squad to represent Phuket in the “Four Ages Sports Against Drugs” tournament in Songkhla between May 29 and June 2. Khun Wirat Visuttarom, head of the office, explained that the purpose of the tournament is to promote sport, to build relationships between various groups of sports people, and to persuade people to spend their free time usefully. In particular, the contest aims to build awareness of the dangers of narcotics and the role of sport in keeping young people healthy and drug-free. Eight sports will be featured — soccer, basketball, volleyball, pétanque, tug of war, sepak takraw, wing priao (a form of relay race) and wing ta-kab (in which teams race while carrying a long pole between their knees). The games will be split into four age groups — under 14, 15 to 25, 26 to 44, and over 45. The Songkhla tournament will be between the 15 south Thailand provinces. The winners will go on to meet their counterparts from north, central and northeast Thailand in national finals in Chiang Mai at the end of June, at which prizes will be presented by senior politicians, including the Prime Minister.