The fourth Asian Beach Games will be focusing on both tourism and sports, Thai officials said yesterday.
To be held in Phuket from Nov 11-23, the tournament features 26 sports with 168 gold medals up for grabs, said Sangvien Boonto, deputy governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand.
While Thailand sees it as a good venue to boost the country's economy and tourism, the competition itself will not be overlooked, Sangvien said.
"Sports have something to do with economy," he told a press conference. "But to make the tournament more interesting, it must be competitive. The success of our athletes is also important."
Under the slogan 'Celebrate Charming Sunshine', Sangvien said that the fourth edition of the biennial event will show tourism and sports can go together.
To make the Games more interesting, the number of disciplines has been increased from 23 to 26 and the tournament's duration has been extended to 13 days, five more than the original schedule.
"It will be the biggest Asian Beach Games with the largest number of participants," he said.
In an attempt to promote the tournament among Thais and tourists, the organisers will start the 200-day countdown in Phuket on April 28.
The ceremony will be presided over by Yu Zaiqing, vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia, Sangvien said.
Events to be contested in the Games are air sports, aquatics, jujitsu, beach handball, sambo, beach volleyball, woodball, beach basketball, bodybuilding, sailing, squash, beach kabaddi, beach wrestling, kurash, muay (Muay Thai), petanque, beach sepak trakaw, foot volley, jetski, beach modern pentathlon, triathlon, beach athletics, waterski, beach flag football, beach soccer, and extreme sports.
The Asian Beach Games were first held in Bali in 2008.