Ban and reinstatement of pétanque
The Thailand Pétanque Association (PAT) was initially sanctioned by the World Pétanque and Bowls Federation (WPBF) and the Fédération Internationale de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal (FIPJP) due to issues regarding the association president's qualifications, which prevented Thai athletes from participating in international competitions. In response, the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) established a central committee to oversee athlete selection and organize pétanque for the 2025 SEA Games. [8] [9]
Conflicts arose over athlete selection, as the SAT continued to support athletes from the original association, delaying any resolution. In September 2025, WPBF and FIPJP formally banned the organization of pétanque events at the Games and announced that any nation sending athletes to compete would face a two-year suspension from all international competitions. [10] [11] [12] Then, Pimol Srivikorn, President of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand (NOCT), and Chaiyapak Siriwat, Vice President of the NOCT, traveled to WPBF and FIPJP headquarters in Paris, France, to negotiate with WPBF and FIPJP to resolve the issue. [13] Concurrently, Deputy Prime Minister Thamanat Prompow sent a letter affirming the Thai government's commitment to follow FIPJP guidelines and support the inclusion of pétanque in the 2025 SEA Games. The SAT also issued clarifications addressing prior communication errors that had caused misunderstandings. Following these actions, WPBF and FIPJP President Claude Azéma approved the inclusion of pétanque at the 2025 SEA Games, allowing the sport to proceed as planned. [14]
Naming of muaythai competition
A debate arose regarding the naming of the combat sport, concerning the use of the term "muay" versus "muaythai". [15] The issue gained public attention around August 2025 when Phai Lik, a member of the House of Respresentatives from Kamphaeng Phet and the president of the Kickboxing Association of Thailand (KAT), publicly urged organizers to confirm the use of the name "muaythai". He argued that this name had been recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA), aligns with the government's soft power policy, and serves as an affirmation of national identity, particularly after Cambodia used the name "kun khmer" during its host year. [16]
Subsequently, on September 10, 2025, Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, the Minister of Tourism and Sports (MOTS), addressed the issue in the House of Representatives, confirming that the government was proposing the matter to the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) for consideration and to advocate for the official use of the term "muaythai". [17]
However, in early October 2025, following reports that the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) was preparing to propose the name change, Chaiyapak Siriwat, CEO of the SEAGF, clarified on October 5, 2025, that the sport would retain the name "muay". He stated this name is stipulated in the SEA Games charter and cannot be altered, although he affirmed that the competition's operations and judging would be managed by IFMA and Thai officials. [18]
