Asian Beach Games Preps In Place

PHUKET, THAILAND - DECEMBER 22: A small number of beach goers wander along the sand towards a newly rebuilt resort on the waterfront of Khao Lak beach, December 22, 2005 in Khao Lak, Thailand. As the one year anniversary for the December 26, 2004 tsunami approaches many resorts in the area are still under heavy construction a small number have reopened despite being incomplete and tourist numbers being extremely low. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Political unrest in Thailand will not affect the 2014 Asian Beach Games, say organizers of the event.

The games will still take place November 14 through November 23 in the resort of Phuket.

Thailand has faced political uncertainty since last November which culminated in Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra stepping down on May 7 at urging of the Thai Supreme Court.Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan took over as acting prime minister.

The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) announced shortly after Shinawatra’s ousting that the Phuket leg of the FIVB World Tour, previously scheduled for October 15 to October 19, would be cancelled.

This put the Asian Beach Games in question as well, but Thailand National Olympic Committee secretary general Charouck Arirachakaran refutes any doubts about Phuket’s ability to host the Games.

Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) director general and technical director Husain Al-Musallam has also affirmed that Thailand is "trusted by the world’s sports community."

"Thailand will once again make another great success and another milestone in Asian sports history in which tourism and sport can perfectly combine," he said

last month at the 200 days to go celebration.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Tourism Authority of Thailand will co-host the fourth Asian Beach Games. Organizers will stage events at the following locations in Phuket: Patong beach, Karon beach, Kata beach, theBangneow dam, the Chaofa mine, and the Saphan Hin sports center.

Organizers predict some 6,000 athletes and officials from 45 countries in Asia will be in attendance.

The Asian Beach Games will feature 168 events in 26 sports such as beach volleyball, beach basketball, sailing, windsurfing, paragliding, jet-ski, water ski, triathlon, ju-jitsu, squash and sambo wrestling.

Ju-jitsu, squash, and sambo wrestling were added to the program in late-April.

Written byNicole Bennett

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