THREE BIG SPORTS EVENTS IN THAILAND THIS NOVEMBER

The world’s largest annual international bowling championship is among three major international sports events due to be held in Thailand in November, a strong indication of continuing normalcy in the kingdom’s sports, leisure and travel industries.

Several thousand participants from about 90 countries will participate in the bowling championship, called the AMF World Cup 2001, as well as the Volvo Women’s Open 2001 and The 17th World Basketball Invitational Tournament for Chinese.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Pradech Phayakvichien commented, “We are very glad to see these sports events being held in Thailand. Many hundreds of friends and relatives of the players invariably attend such events, which also generate a lot of valuable TV and media exposure for the host destination.”

The AMF World Cup 2001 will be held on November 4 in Pattaya. More than 600 contestants are expected to come from 92 countries, as against 88 countries represented at the 2000 tournament in Lisbon, Portugal.

The event will see both men and women amateur champions from around the world compete for sterling silver trophies and one of the most prestigious individual titles in international bowling.

At the same time, between November 3- 11, Pattaya will also host the Volvo Women's Open 2001 which will bring together leading women tennis players from more than 50 countries and territories. The event is co-sponsored by Volvo, Q8 Petroleum, TAT and several more companies and organisations.

Now in its 13th year, this event is the last on the 2001 Sanex-World Tennis Association (WTA) tour and has a total prize money of US$110,000.

This year’s event includes some of the highest ranked players ever to take part, like Jelena Dokic, ranked 10th , and a winner of three titles this year, Magdalena Maleeva, ranked 14th , and a winner in Budapest this year, Patty Schnyder, ranked 2nd in Switzerland behind Martina Hingis, last year's winner Anne Kremer as well as Tamarine Tanasugarn, a Thai player ranked 29th .

The 17th World Basketball Invitational Tournament for Chinese will be held between November 22-25 at the Indoor Stadium, Huamark and attract about 3,000 players in 150 teams from 25 countries.

In addition to these events, Thailand is also preparing to host a number of international conventions such as the 40th Orient and Southeast Asia Lions Forum (OSEAL) between December 6-9, 2001.