Marathon organisers apologise for 3am fireworks

Organisers of Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok 2020 have apologised for letting off fireworks during the early hours of Sunday, drawing harsh criticism on social media.

Tourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan on Monday apologised for the lack of consideration of public sensitivities and failing to thoroughly scrutinise the event's schedule.

The Sunday event was organised by the Tourism and Sports Ministry, Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thailand Tri-League, a running event organiser. 

The run started at 3am at Rajamangala National Stadium and ended at Democracy Monument for the half and full marathons. The ministry claimed 28,000 runners took part in the programme, which included shorter distances for some runners.

The fireworks display erupted over Rajamangala stadium at 3am and lasted two minutes, counting down to an event the ministry promoted as world class. 

The early-hours extravaganza became the subject of criticism on Twitter and other social media.

"C'mon. Fireworks at 3am. We got disturbed,"  complained @giftya5, a Twitter user who lives near the area. 

"Only in Thailand," @psdaaggg wrote, adding the fireworks undermined a campaign to battle haze in the capital.

"Wanting to wake us up to see you guys run?" another quipped.

Thailand Tri-League chairman Kobkiat Sangwanich posted a message on his Facebook account in apology. 

"The main objective of the fireworks was to alert officials, volunteers and other team members along the route ... that the run was beginning," he wrote.

"I really made a mistake," he admitted.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn also offered an apology,  speaking for one of the agencies supporting the event.