By Nick Butler

Prospects of sporting events being held in Thailand later this year are in doubt following the military coup launched this week ©Getty ImagesInternational Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) President Adhan Sharara has insisted they will "wait and see" how events in Thailand pan out before taking a decision on whether to move the season-ending Grand Finals to a different location.


The Grand Finals, the most lucrative event in the ITTF calender with a prize pot expected to exceed $1 million (£590,000/€730,000), were awarded to Bangkok earlier this week and are due to be held from December 11 to 14.

But following months of instability since the People's Democratic Reform Committee, led by Suthep Thaugsuban, began staging anti-Government rallies in Bangkok as part of a call for wider reform, the political situation in the south-east Asian country has deteriorated.

Earlier this month, a court found Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra guilty of abuse of power and ordered her to step down, before martial law was imposed on Tuesday (May 20).

Then yesterday, the military announced they were taking control of the Government and suspending the constitution, with the cabinet ordered to report to the military, TV broadcasting suspended and political gatherings banned.

A nationwide curfew has also be introduced operating from 10pm until 5am each night, although a growing anti-military resistance movement is already emerging. 

In this climate, it seems unlikely major sporting events will be able to take place unless stability is restored over coming months, something admitted by Sharara. 

Protesters throughout the last 16 months have focused around Bangkok, where the ITTF Grand Finals will be held ©AFP/Getty ImagesProtesters throughout the last 16 months have focused around Bangkok, where the ITTF Grand Finals will be held ©AFP/Getty Images




"Of course we are very concerned about the developments in Thailand," the Canadian told insidethegames. 

"However, our staff are in daily contact with the organisers of our World Tour Finals in Bangkok and at the moment feel confident that we have sufficient time for matters to be settled positively in Thailand over the next couple of months, hence not affecting our event.

"However, we are keeping a close look at events and we will wait and see how things develop before we make any new decision regarding the hosting of the event."

Although the hub of the protesting movement has taken place in Bangkok, the national complexion of the military takeover also calls into question whether the Asian Beach Games, scheduled to be held in Phuket from November 14 to 23, can go ahead, 

Last week, Major General Charouck Arirachakaran, secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, told the Bangkok Post they should be able to host the Games, but would be unlikely to bid for any future sporting events.

But the latest developments mean hosting a multi-sport event, due to feature 147 events in 23 sports, will be far more difficult, with the Olympic Council of Asia yet to respond to questions from insidethegames over whether the Games will go ahead. 

It has already been predicted that visitors to Thai tourist hubs, including Phuket, may fall by five percent this year, the biggest drop since 2009, after Governments including from the United States and Hong Kong advised citizens to be cautious when travelling to the nation.

It was announced on May 7 that the Phuket leg of the International Volleyball Federation World Tour, scheduled for October 15 to 19, would be cancelled.

The General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees is also due to be held in Bangkok from November 5 to 9. 

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