Students from five Pattaya city schools and the Soi Kophai Community won tens of thousands of baht in prizes and plenty of accolades for their efforts to stay off drugs at the latest To Be No. 1 Aerobics & Dancercise Championship and Youth Contest.
“Festival 54,” held at Royal Garden Plaza on June 30 – World Anti-Drugs Day – awarded cash prizes in five categories to teams of youngsters from Pattaya schools 3, 4, 5, and 7 as well as the Kophai neighborhood squad. Part of a national organization chaired by HRH Princess Ubolratana to steer teens away from drugs through exercise and programs to boost self image, the dance contest is held annually.
Most of the children use this opportunity to write blessings for His Majesty the King.
Chonburi Gov. Wichit Chatpaisit and Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome opened the competition with speeches against illegal drugs before the dancing kicked off.
Pattaya School No. 8 took top honors in the Junior category, earning a 6,000 baht prize. Pattaya School No. 4 won the 5,000 baht runner-up prize.
In the Pre-Teen category, School No. 3 won first place and 15,000 baht with School No. 8 finishing second for 10,000 baht.
Chonburi Gov. Wichit Chatpaisit gives the opening speech.
School No. 4 came out tops in the Teen category, followed by School No. 7 getting 10,000 baht.
Soi Kophai took the Community category and 6,000 baht while Pattaya School No. 5 earned 15,000 baht by winning the Club competition.
The winning teams now move onto higher-level contests.
Coveted trophies on display for all to see.
Even though they are youngsters, they can still put on quite an acrobatic show.
The older kids can get “high” without the use of illegal drugs.
Hooray team!
Hundreds of supporters cheer on their teams.
The winners and runners up in each category will be Pattaya’s representatives to compete at the provincial level.
