The Asian Games, also known as Asiad, is a continental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation (AGF) from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games, they have been organized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), after the breakup of the Asian Games Federation. The Games are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and are described as the second largest multi-sport event after the Olympic Games.
Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn was a military dictator of Thailand. A staunch anti-communist, Thanom oversaw a decade of military rule in Thailand from 1963 to 1973, during which he staged a self-coup, until public protests which exploded into violence forced him to step down. His return from exile in 1976 sparked protests which led to a massacre of demonstrators, followed by a military coup.
Thailand competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. This was the nation's thirteenth appearance at the Olympics, except the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow because of its partial support to the United States boycott.
The Southeast Asian Games, also known as the SEA Games, is a biennial multi-sport event involving participants from the current 11 countries of Southeast Asia. The games is under regulation of the Southeast Asian Games Federation with supervision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia.
Thailand first participated at the Olympic Games in 1952, and has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since then, except when they participated in the US-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics. Thailand has also participated in the Winter Olympic Games since 2002.
The 1959 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games, officially known as the 1st Southeast Asian Peninsular Games was the first and inaugural edition of the biennial multi-sport event for Southeast Asian athletes, organised by the SEAP Games Federation. It was held in Bangkok, Thailand from 12 to 17 December 1959 with 12 sports featured in the games. Cambodia, one of the six founding members of the SEAP Games Federation, did not compete at the inaugural edition. For the first time and first among all Southeast Asian nations, Thailand hosted the Southeast Asian Peninsular Games, which later known as the Southeast Asian Games. The games was opened and closed by Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand at the Suphachalasai Stadium. The final medal tally was led by host Thailand, followed by its neighbouring countries, Burma and Malaya.
The 1967 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games, officially known as the 4th Southeast Asian Peninsular Games, was a Southeast Asian multi-sport event held in Bangkok, Thailand from 9 to 16 December 1967 with 16 sports featured in the games. Cambodia once again declined to host this edition of the games, as it did in 1963. This was Thailand's second time hosting the Southeast Asian Games, and its first time since the 1959 inaugural games. The games was opened and closed by Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand at the Suphachalasai Stadium. The final medal tally was led by host Thailand, followed by Singapore and Malaysia.
The 1995 Southeast Asian Games, officially known as the 18th Southeast Asian Games, was a Southeast Asian multi-sport event held in Chiang Mai, Thailand from 9 to 17 December 1995. It was the first time that a non-capital city hosted the biennial sports event. Chiang Mai is the second Thai city to host the Southeast Asian Games after Bangkok. The games were opened and closed by Vajiralongkorn, the then-Crown Prince of Thailand. With the return of Cambodia, all ten members of the federation were present to compete in the SEA Games for the first time.
The 2007 Southeast Asian Games, officially known as the 24th Southeast Asian Games was a Southeast Asian multi-sport event held in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), Thailand. This was the sixth time Thailand hosted the Southeast Asian Games and its first time since 1995. Previously, Thailand also hosted the 1959 inaugural games, 1967 games, 1975 games and the 1985 games.
The 1958 Asian Games, officially the Third Asian Games and commonly known as Tokyo 1958, was a multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan, from 24 May to 1 June 1958. It was governed by the Asian Games Federation. A total of 1,820 athletes representing 20 Asian National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated in the Games. The program featured competitions in 13 different sports encompassing 97 events, including four non-Olympic sports, judo, table tennis, tennis and volleyball. Four of these competition sports – field hockey, table tennis, tennis and volleyball – were introduced for the first time in the Asian Games.
The 1966 Asian Games, also known as the V Asiad, was a multi-sport event which was held from December 9 to 20, 1966, in Bangkok, Thailand. A total of 142 events in 14 sports were contested by athletes in the game. Taiwan and Israel returned to the Asian Games, reversing the decision taken by Indonesia in the previous Asiad to debar the two countries. A total number of 2,500 athletes and officials, coming from 18 countries, were involved in this Asiad, where women's volleyball made its debut.
The 7th Asian Games were held from 1 to 16 September 1974 in Tehran, Imperial Iran. The Aryamehr Sports Complex was built for the Games. The Asian Games were hosted in the Middle East for the first time. Tehran, the capital of Iran, played host to 3,010 athletes coming from 25 countries/NOCs, the highest number of participants since the inception of the Games.
The Thailand national under-23 football team, also known as the Thailand Olympic football team is the national team for the under-23 and 22 level, representing Thailand in international football competitions in the Olympic Games, Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games, as well as any other under-23 international football tournaments including the AFC U-23 Championship. It is controlled by the Football Association of Thailand.
Thailand participated in the 2006 Asian Games held in Doha, Qatar from 1–15 December 2006.
Thailand ended the games at 54 overall medals including 13 gold medals.
Thailand has competed at every celebration of the Asian Games, including hosting the Games in 1966, 1970, 1978 and 1998. Thai athletes have won a total of 109 gold medals and 463 overall medals at the Asian Games.
Thailand participated in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China between 12–27 November 2010. The National Olympic Committee of Thailand sent 593 athletes to Guangzhou, and competed in 39 out of 42 sports. Thailand ended the games at 52 overall medals including 11 gold medals. These games witnessed first ever gold medals in Taekwondo.
Thailand was the host nation for the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok on 6–20 December 1998. Thailand ended the games at 90 overall medals including 24 gold medals which is the best showing of Thailand ever since inception of Asian Games in 1951.
Thailand competed at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, Greece. The team included 43 athletes, 33 men and 10 women. Competitors from Thailand won 15 medals, including 3 gold, 6 silver and 6 bronze to finish 35th in the medal table.
Water polo was contested for men only at the 1966 Asian Games in Chula Swimming Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand from 13 to 17 December 1966.
Thailand is currently taking part in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia as a competing nation, from 18 August to 2 September 2018. This is the nation's eighteenth appearance at the Asian Games, since the inaugural games in New Delhi.
