FINANCE / Olympic success attracts aid

Written by Writer on Wednesday, November 12th, 2008

FINANCE / Olympic success attracts aid

KITTIPONG THONGSOMBAT

The amateur boxing, weightlifting and taekwondo associations have received an increase in sponsorship thanks to their success at the 2008 Olympics. Gen Taweep Jantararoj, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of Thailand (Abat) said Krung Thai Bank will remain as their main sponsor when the current three-year contract expires this year, which is worth 20 million baht a year.

Abat will also recieve cash from from Singha, Brands, M-150, Nike and Toyota.

The Thai boxing team won a gold medal from Somjit Jongjohor and a silver from Manus Boonjumnong at the Beijing Olympics.

Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association (Tawa) president Bussaba Yodbangtoey said that Singha had agreed to give Tawa 20 million baht leading up to the 2012 London Games.

Last month, Tawa also signed a new four-year contract with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat).

That deal is worth 40 million baht. In the previous contract, Egat paid the association 15 million baht over three years.

Weightlifter Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon won gold in Beijing.

Preecha Tortrakul, vice president of the Taekwondo Association of Thailand (TAT), is also enjoying extra funds.Government Housing Bank (GHB) will remain as the main sponsor, with an improved deal worth 17 million baht a year. The current contract is worth 37 million baht over three years.

The association also receives five million baht a year from Singha.

Bangkok Post
Wednesday November 12, 2008