PM addresses Thai athletes before SEA Games

BANGKOK, November 2 (TNA) - A team of 1,096 Thai athletes and sport officials met Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Bangkok's Government House on Wednesday before departing for the 26th Southeast Asian Games (SEA) Games, scheduled to be held in Indonesia from November 11-25. At the meeting, Yingluck congratulated the Thai athletes for having an opportunity to compete in the biggest regional competition, saying they have been chosen to represent the country because of their hard training and strict discipline. The Pheu Thai premier extended her best wishes to the Thai team, led by Defense Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapa, who is also the chair of the Olympic Committee of Thailand, saying she hopes all Thai athletes participate in sport challenges and bring fame to their motherland. The female premier insisted that the Thai government has a policy on promoting sports for the sake of good health of Thai people and national unity, and that the government will also promote and support Thailand to become a regional and global sport hub in the future, with state funds earmarked to sponsor programs on developing sport skills among Thai youths to achieve the goal. (TNA)