Bangkok: The President of the Thai Olympic Committee has expressed opposition to the direct transfer of food funds to athletes, advocating instead for separate payment of allowances.

According to Thai News Agency, Associate Professor Pimol Srivikrom, who also serves as President of the Taekwondo Association, chaired a meeting at Ban Amphawan to address the challenges faced by sports associations due to decreased funding from the National Sports Development Fund. The associations plan to submit a joint letter to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to request a review and reallocation of the fund. The meeting also discussed the fund board's resolution to pay allowances and food expenses directly to athletes.

The President stated his disagreement with the direct payment of food allowances, highlighting that the current system allows associations to manage athlete nutrition effectively. He explained that the 600 baht allowance consists of 300 baht for food, which is crucial for providing scientifically-based meals suited to each sport. Although the 300 baht daily allowance could be paid directly to athletes, he emphasized the importance of timely payments from the fund to prevent disruptions in athlete management. The previous system of transferring funds through sports associations, especially for food expenses, was deemed efficient, and any payment delays should be addressed to streamline the process.