Bangkok: A proposal has been put forth to delay the Youth Olympic Games in Thailand to 2034 because of budgetary constraints. The Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) disclosed the proposal, which is intended for government consideration. Additionally, there remains a lack of clarity regarding World Cup broadcasting rights, with an emphasis on enabling Thai citizens to view the games.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Kongsak Yodmani, Governor of the SAT, conveyed details following the 7th/2026 meeting of the National Sports Development Fund Management Committee, led by Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thongsri. Though the Youth Olympic Games' progress was not a primary discussion point, the matter has been preliminarily directed to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Olympic Committee for review. Initial evaluations suggest that hosting the Games would positively impact sports development and economic recovery. Consequently, it was proposed that if the government requires immediate budget reallocation to aid the public, bidding for the 2034 Games might be more feasible. This proposal is yet to receive final approval and is currently a concept prepared for governmental submission.
Mr. Kongsak also mentioned the issue of acquiring broadcasting rights for the World Cup, noting that it was not discussed in the meeting. Nonetheless, he stressed the importance of enabling public access to watch the matches. The SAT has responded to inquiries from the Public Relations Department about past events, offering complete information and expressing readiness to support initiatives that allow Thai people to enjoy the World Cup.
Furthermore, Mr. Kongsak revealed that the meeting addressed athlete allowance payments, highlighting challenges in achieving consensus among sports associations. Concerns were raised that direct payments might create management issues and weaken associations. Today's meeting did not approve direct payments to all athletes, and the matter was discussed solely for informational purposes. Observations from various organizations will be reviewed before being presented to the committee for a final decision.