The 2021 IFMA World Muaythai Championships are due to be held in Phuket from December 1 to 12 ©Getty Images

Representatives of the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) have visited Phuket in Thailand, which is due to host this year's World Muaythai Championships.

IFMA President Sakchye Tapsuwan was among the visitors to the Blue Tree venue in Phuket, the capital of the island province of the same name.

He and the other delegates were welcomed by Narong Woonciew, the Governor of Phuket.

Those in attendance were provided with an update on the progress of the official venue for the World Muaythai Championships, and were shown the proposed official hotel and convention centre for the tournament.

Woonciew thanked the IFMA and the Amateur Muaythai Association of Thailand (AMTAT) for trusting Phuket as host of the event.

Strict measures to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 infections associated with the World Championships are planned, with Tapsuwan and IFMA secretary general Stephan Fox delivering a presentation on the proposals alongside Vit Suthithavil, the chief executive of Brite Panther which is a partner of the Organising Committee.

Sports Authority of Thailand Phuket office director Wirat Patee, IFMA technical delegate Ajarn Paiboon Srichaisawat and representatives of the AMTAT were also present.

Thailand, along with many of its south-east Asian neighbours, has been battling its biggest wave of COVID-19 infections lately.

Vaccinated visitors from 72 countries are currently able to travel to Phuket without quarantining upon arrival ©Getty Images
Vaccinated visitors from 72 countries are currently able to travel to Phuket without quarantining upon arrival ©Getty Images

Cases have been declining since peaking at over 20,000 a day in mid-August, with 10,288 cases confirmed yesterday.

The country has recorded more than 1.5 million cases and 16,369 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

However, Phuket has been open to fully vaccinated travellers from listed countries since July 1, with visitors from 72 territories currently eligible to forgo quarantine requirements if they stay in Phuket for at least seven days.

Vaccinated travellers from other countries must quarantine for seven days, while the requirement is 10 days for those who are unvaccinated.

Athletes from all five continents are expected to attend the IFMA World Championships in Phuket, which are due to run from December 1 to 12.

Muaythai's governing body was granted full recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at its Session in Tokyo prior to this summer's Olympic Games, so this will be the first World Championships it has held since then.

It was granted provisional recognition in 2016.

The last edition of the World Muaythai Championships were also held in Thailand in 2019 in the country's capital Bangkok.