Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said last night Thailand's success at the SEA Games was one of the few things that had made him happy since taking over the reins of the government in a coup he staged last year.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha gives a thumbs up to the women's football team during last night's party at Government House. photos by Thanarak Khunton
Prayut made the statement at a reception he hosted at Government House for Thai athletes and officials who took part in this month's SEA Games in Singapore.
The participants were taken to Government on open-top buses in a parade from the Victory Monument.
Prayut rewarded the SEA Games medallists as well as their coaches and associations with cash bonuses worth nearly 145 million baht provided by the National Sports Development Fund.
Thailand won the overall title at the 28th SEA Games by capturing 95 gold, 83 silver and 69 bronze medals to finish ahead of Singapore, who claimed 84 golds.
Prayut told the SEA Games contingent that Thailand's first-place finish in Singapore was among only a few things that had made him rejoice after last year's May 22 power seizure.
"I am very happy today and this makes me smile,'' he said. "I have had problems [since the coup] such as water shortage and drought."
He said the SEA Games had united the Thai people as they cheered on their athletes to succeed at the SEA Games.
Prayut called on the Thais to stop fighting each other for the sake of the country.
The prime minister promised to support and promote every sport.
When Thailand becomes stronger, the country's successful athletes may get higher bonuses, he said.
Under the National Sports Development Fund's bonus scheme for the SEA Games, a gold medallist receives 200,000 baht, a silver medallist 100,000 baht and a bronze medallist 50,000 baht.
The coaches and associations of the successful athletes also receive separate bonuses.
The Thai women's football team also joined last night's party and received 500,000 baht from the premier.
Although Thailand were eliminated in the first round in their World Cup debut, they beat Ivory Coast 3-2 at the ongoing tournament in Canada, which was sandwiched between two 4-0 losses to Norway and Germany.
The Thai women claimed the SEA Games crown after their triumph at the 2013 tournament in Myanmar, but were denied the opportunity to defend it in Singapore as the event was not included in the 2015 edition of the Games.
An athlete takes a selfie with Gen Prayut.