Thailand National Games
The Thailand National Games is a national multi-sport event held every two years among athletes from all over Thailand. The games were regulated by the Organization of the Sport of Thailand from the first games in Bangkok, Thailand, from the 1967 games until the 1984 games. Since the 1985 games, they have been organized by the Sports Authority of Thailand, after the breakup of the Organization of the Sport of Thailand. The games are recognized by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and are described as the largest multi-sport event in Thailand.
In its history, twenty-six provinces have hosted the National Games. Seventy-seven provinces have participated in the games, including Bueng Kan, which was the most recent participant, in 2011.
The last games were held in Chiang Rai, Thailand in 2018.
History
Formation
Thailand National Games, formerly known as Thailand Regional Games, was organized by the Organization of the Sport of Thailand among qualified Thai athletes at the 1967 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games held in Bangkok, Thailand. The first Thailand Regional Games were held in Bangkok from 1 to 5 November 1967. The competition was represented by five regions. After that, the fifth Thailand Regional Games was added from 5 to 10 regions by Bangkok moved from the Region 1 to the Region 10.In 1984, the Organization of the Sport of Thailand committee was renamed to "Thailand National Games" and used in 1985 Games, with changed the objective of the Thailand National Games to make the strengthen of Thai sport.
On 23 February 1999, the Thai cabinet agreed with Sports Authority of Thailand to host the Thailand National Games every two years in 2002, 2004 and 2006, the games was represented from 10 regions to 76 provinces.
However, the Thai cabinet in 2006 agreed with SAT to host the Thailand National Games every year from two years in 2007, because to continuation in the development of the Thai sport but also represented by the provinces.
On 26 July 2013, the Thai cabinet assembled at the SAT congress and agreed that the Thailand National Games should be held every two years instead of one year, beginning in 2018, because at present time, many national and international events affect the rehearse and budget needed to send the athletes to the events.
Crises
In 1978 the Games were affected by the 1978 Udon Thani floods. The Udon Thani 1978 Organising Committee postponed this competition from October 1978 to January 1979.In 2011 the Games were affected by the 2011 Thailand floods. The Khon Kaen 2011 Organising Committee postponed the competition from November 2011 to March 2012.
In 2015 the Games' opening ceremony was postponed from 11 December 2015 to 12 December 2015 due to the "Bike for dad" event, while the 2016 Games were cancelled due to King Bhumibol's death.
Royal flame
The royal flame is the flame from the king to light the cauldron during competitions. The flame was introduced at the 1967 Thailand Regional Games in Bangkok. The organizing committee must contact the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary to receive the flame. After the king knows the contact, the governor of the host receives the flame from the king at the palace.The flame was lit at Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram in Bangkok once a year. This flame is used for royal ceremonies, cremation ceremonies, or sporting event ceremonies, including the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, and Summer Universiade.