Thailand is making no secret of this: it hopes to organize the Youth Olympic Games in 2030. Representatives of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), present at SportAccord this week in Birmingham, confirmed to FrancsJeuxhave entered into a dialogue phase with the IOC to host the event after Dakar, in Senegal, host of the Games in 2026. The Thai bid is based on the capital Bangkok. It does not plan to build new facilities, but plans to use existing sites in and around Bangkok, including the new Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (photo above). To win, Thailand will have to beat another Asian candidacy, that of India, also in the race for the Olympic Games in 2036. In parallel with its candidacy for the Youth Games in 2030, the Thai government is supporting the efforts of the International Muay Thai Federation to integrate the Olympic program as an additional sport at the Brisbane Games in 2032. Thailand will organize the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games at the end of the year, then the Southeast Asian Games next year. Bangkok is also due to host this year's FIFA annual congress and the general assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
