The "Bike for Dad" cycling event in December is set to expand overseas as Thais worldwide are invited to ride bicycles in their countries of residence to show gratitude to His Majesty the King.
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will lead the 29-kilometre ride along Bangkok's streets on Dec 11 in the same manner as the "Bike for Mom" event on Aug 16, which drew tens of thousands of participants in both Bangkok and upcountry.
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Although the distances for participants living abroad may vary, depending on the cycling routes available in each country, everyone will cycle and shout simultaneously, "Long Live the King," said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at a meeting held Wednesday to discuss preparations for the event.
The Bike for Dad cycling event aims to show gratitude to His Majesty the King -- who will turn 88 on Dec 5 -- and also to promote exercise, Thai culture and national unity, he said.
HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn has picked the cultural activity khon, a traditional masked dance featuring the Ramayana epic in Indian mythology, to add colour to the event, said Gen Prayut.
The performance, which will be staged from Dec 11, will take place outdoors for three days at the Royal Plaza, giving people the opportunity to see the Thai version of the Indian story, as well as the elegant costumes and dance. The event's main highlight -- cycling -- will proceed along parts of Bangkok's old zones, a route which is viewed by organisers as "auspicious" and which passes through many historic areas, Gen Prayut said.
Cyclists will start at the Royal Plaza near Dusit Palace, built on the order of King Rama V in 1868, and then head to Chulalongkorn University, the oldest university in Thailand, the Thonburi Palace (also known as Phra Racha Wang Derm and formerly the royal residence of King Taksin) and Siriraj Hospital, the oldest hospital in Thailand.
His Majesty the King is currently staying at Siriraj Hospital.
The circuit also passes the large, French-style Ratchadamnoen Avenue, built on the order of King Rama V in 1899 as a thoroughfare between the Dusit Palace and the Grand Palace near the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
The avenue design was based on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
Bike for Dad participants will start cycling at 3pm, the same time as Bike for Mom, but the distance is shorter.
The Bike for Mom event, which was also led by HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, covered 43km and the route included northern Bangkok.
Meanwhile, the Bike for Dad route spans inner-city areas covering the capital's old zones on the eastern and western sides of the Chao Phraya River, through Phra Nakhon and Thon Buri, respectively.
At the event, 100,000 participants will receive shirts and wristbands from the Crown Prince, Gen Prayut added.
