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Mayor seeks 3 billion baht for disabled sports facility
Mayor Itthiphol
Kunplome and Maj. Gen. Osoth Bhavilai look over plans to renovate the
Pattaya Indoor Sports Arena to make it the nation’s main venue for
disabled athletes.
Thanachot Anuwan
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome wants to spend 3 billion baht to
renovate the Pattaya Indoor Sports Arena to make it the nation’s main
venue for disabled athletes.
Following Thailand’s strong finish at the 2012 Paralympics Games in
London, Itthiphol met with Sports Association for the Disabled President
Maj. Gen. Osoth Bhavilai Sept. 18 at city hall. The two outlined an
agreement for Pattaya to transform the existing sports stadium on Soi
Chaiyapruek 2 into a host site for the Paralympics Committee of
Thailand.
The police general, who also heads the Paralympics Committee, wants the
new facility to offer a swimming pool, care fitness center, training
programs, ramps, accessible restrooms and doctors living on the
premises. Work should be complete within three years, in time to train
athletes for the next Paralympics, he said.
Funding for the project remains in question, however, as Itthiphol
earlier diverted money earmarked for construction of a football field to
cut trees, plant flowers and otherwise beautify Pattaya Beach. More than
560 million baht is needed to complete the stadium and budget for
completion of the entire athletics compound totals about 800 million.
The mayor and general estimated turning the planned indoor and outdoor
stadiums into a facility capable of hosting a Paralympics would cost 3
billion baht, including the cost for additional land.
Itthiphol said the normal budget for such a project is spread over five
years. However, that would be too long, he said, adding that he will
push the Cabinet to provide expedited funds.
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