The Royal Thai Army Sports Centre has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Sport Authority of Thailand (SAT) to officially recognise and promote Muay Thai as a national sport.
On Tuesday afternoon, army chief Gen Narongphan Jitkaewtae, in his capacity as chairman of the board members of the sport centre, and SAT governor Kongsak Yodmanee put the finishing touch to a policy set out by the Royal Thai Army to give Muay Thai a firm footing as a popular sport.
Both the army and the SAT agreed the cooperation would work pragmatically toward achieving the goal of lifting the standards of Muay Thai as a sport in various aspects so that it can eventually be named as the kingdom's official national sport.
Gen Narongphan said the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, one of the country's best-known boxing rings, is where the nation's premier competitions and bouts take place for the public's viewing pleasure, tourism and preservation of the fighting art's culture. It is also a learning centre for Muay Thai.
"But there will be no ringside gambling," said Gen Narongphan.
The agreement also includes a five-year plan to improve the quality of life of army personnel who also practice boxing as a form of regular exercise.
The Royal Thai Army Sports Centre will also be promoted as a facility for the development of Muay Thai in a move consistent with the government's policy to use the sport as a tool to encourage people to learn about the martial art for healthy living as well as for self-defence purposes.
Most high profile Thai boxing bouts are televised or streamed live on a number of Facebook pages, including the official Facebook page of "Lumpinee Boxing Stadium" and "Fairtex Fight Promotion"; the official YouTube channels of Lumpinee Boxing Stadium and Tero digital; and Channel 7HD at 10am-12pm and PPTV at 4pm-6pm every Saturday.
The name of the stadium was officially changed from Muay Thai Lumpinee to the Royal Thai Army Sports Centre last year. The complex is accessible to the general public, not only army personnel.
The stadium was originally located on Rama IV Road in Klong Toey. In 2014, it was relocated to the Royal Thai Army Sports Centre on Ram Intra Road in Bangkok's suburbs and renamed.