On 12 June 2009, Mr. Tinnakorn Numboonjitta, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports, and Mr. Vitavas Srivihok, Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs, gave a press briefing on the “ASEAN Youth Football Cup 2009”, at Vithes Samosorn Hall, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports will be hosting ASEAN Youth Football Cup 2009 matches during 21-29 June 2009 at Supachalasai National Stadium in Bangkok, as well as stadiums in Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Suphan Buri, and Chonburi provinces. The event is part of the activities organized by Thailand in its role as ASEAN Chair.
A number of activities are being organized by both the public and private sectors as part of Thailand’s efforts to help bring ASEAN closer to the goal of an ASEAN Community. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is organizing four projects for 2009-2010: the ASEAN Youth Ambassadors Project, ASEAN Family Rally, ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement of Tourism Professionals Mobile Mission, and ASEAN Youth Football Cup. These activities are expected to stimulate intra-ASEAN tourism and help promote the ASEAN Youth Travelling Years 2009-2010 campaign.
The ASEAN Youth Football Cup 2009 aims to promote the sharing of knowledge and experience in sports capacity building, promote tourism destinations within the ASEAN region, and use sports and tourism to promote peace and understanding among the ASEAN member countries. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has invited all ASEAN member countries to participate and will be responsible for round-trip airfare and in-country expenses including accommodation, meals, transportation and sightseeing for 10 football players under 14 years of age, 1 team manager, and 1 official from the national tourism organization from each country. The opening ceremony will be on 22 June 2009 at Supachalasai National Stadium at 14.00 hrs. The final match will be on 28 June 2009 during 15.30 — 17.00 hrs, followed by the closing ceremony at the Twin Towers Hotel at 18.00 — 21.00 hrs.
Apart from promoting sportsmanship and ideals of the game, the project will give all participants an opportunity to visit important tourism destinations, and enhance peace, cooperation, and the forging of an ASEAN identity.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th