Bangkok: Attakorn Sirilatthayakon, the Minister of Tourism and Sports, has disclosed that the current budget allocated for international sporting events is insufficient to send athletes to compete, following a significant reduction from over 2 billion baht to 1.2 billion baht. He committed to addressing the issue by directing funds straight to athletes, bypassing associations, with an aim to find a long-term solution.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Sirilatthayakon held a press conference to announce that he had been informed by representatives of the Olympic Committee about the budget cuts. He prepared documents to brief the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister responsible for tourism and sports. He expressed concern over the budget cut from more than 2 billion baht to 1.2 billion baht, which affects support for athletes in international competitions.

The minister presented documents detailing the plan and approval process from the fund's committee, which had set a budget framework of approximately 4.1 billion baht for 2026, including 12 projects. One project, with a budget of 1.2 billion baht, is specifically for sending athletes to various sporting events. There was a meeting in August 2025, during his tenure at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and by September 2025, the Ministry of Finance had responded positively.

Mr. Sirilatthayakon reaffirmed that the original budget framework remains unchanged. He highlighted the need for adjustments to ensure that Thailand, through the Sports Authority of Thailand and the fund, can send athletes to compete with adequate financial support. He thanked the Olympic Committee for their concern, as they played a role in proposing the 1.2 billion baht budget.

Since assuming his role, Mr. Sirilatthayakon has been keen to implement improvements. Recently, he represented the Deputy Prime Minister at a Sports Fund board meeting where they proposed a pilot program for paying athlete allowances directly. This initiative aims to resolve issues of delayed payments and insufficient funds, promoting transparency and efficiency.

Mr. Sirilatthayakon further explained that the approved budget was 1.2 billion baht upon his arrival, while the actual need exceeded 10 billion baht. The submitted approval and screening process to the Ministry of Finance, however, was based on the 1.2 billion baht budget.