CHIANG MAI -- Two municipalities have combined to organise "Summer Beach Games", being held on a big sand dune on the Mae Chaem riverbed far from the nearest sea.
The mayors of tambon Ban Pae Municipality in Chom Thong district and tambon Tha Kham Municipality in Hot district said they wanted to turn the water crisis, which has seen sand dunes emerging from the falling river, into opportunity.
Backhoes were used to grade one of the sand dune islands under the bridge across the Mae Chaem River at Wat Tha Kham Nua for use as a venue for beach football and beach volleyball.
Their announcement said 34 football and volleyball teams would participate in the Summer Beach Games for trophies and cash rewards. The first games were on Monday and the competition continues until April 5.
The football, with five men on each side, and volleyball matches are being played from 3pm on each day.
Pansak Kaewsudchai, the mayor of tambon Ban Pae Municipality, said most of the competitors are students from Chiang Mai town who had returned home for the summer vacation.
A section of the river will also be dug out to make a pool holding enough water for people to play with during the Songkran Festival, he said.