The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) and the local office of the Sports Authority of Thailand held a ceremony today (May 4) at Surakul Stadium to begin the countdown.
Major highlights of the games will the opening ceremony, which will be held on May 26, and the closing ceremony on June 5, both organised by the OrBorJorat Surakul Stadium and beginning at 5pm.
Performers signed up for these ceremonies will include Jaruwat “Dome” Cheawaram, this year’s winner of the TV competition The Star, and Pavida “Silvy” Moriggi, who competed in the same competition in 2011.
“The opening and closing ceremony are the main events aimed at impressing visitors to Phuket,” said OrBorJor president Paiboon Upatising. The OrBorJor has spent B70 million on improving Surakul stadium, the OrBorJor swimming pool, tennis courts and other facilities, he said.
The budget for the opening and closing ceremonies is B10 million, he added.
More than 10,000 competitors from around Thailand will compete in 40 sports at various venues across the island, with the main venues being the stadium at Surakul, Saphan Hin, Rajabhat Phuket and Kathu.
Phuket hopes to score gold medals for Wushu, Karate, Pencak Silat, Judo, Taekwondo, golf and bowling.