In a renewed push to bolster sports initiatives across Thailand, the “One Sport, One State Enterprise” program has garnered increased attention. First launched in 2005 (B.E. 2548), this program is geared towards fostering stronger collaborations between the private sector and various sports associations throughout the country. The recent developments in this endeavor were marked by a committee meeting led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, focused on revitalizing the program.
The meeting, saw Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin delineate essential criteria for eligibility in securing funding under this initiative. These criteria encompassed a sport’s international presence, the level of public interest it generates, past achievements of sports associations, their strategic developmental plans, transparency in their management, and effective performance tracking mechanisms.
In a bid to streamline the process, the committee formed two sub-committees to carry out crucial tasks. The first sub-committee is dedicated to establishing the selection criteria and filtering sports associations based on their alignment with the program’s objectives. The second sub-committee’s primary role is to serve as an advisory body to the Prime Minister and focus on orchestrating support from both state enterprises and the private sector. Notably, Suphanit Chayawat, an advisor to the Prime Minister, was appointed as the deputy chair of this influential sub-committee.
The newly revamped “One Sport, One State Enterprise Plus” program is poised for an immediate launch, with a substantial budget allocation ranging from 1.3 to 1.5 billion Baht over a four-year span. The program’s ambitious aim is to swiftly commence the allocation of funding to deserving sports associations within the next two months, providing them with the necessary resources to thrive and contribute to Thailand’s sporting landscape.
