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I Contents: F M A Royal Patronage from the Royal Military Academy delivered This year, WMC was given the honour the Royal Flag and the Royal Letter from His Royal Patronage of receiving official Royal Patronage from the King Majesty, showing respect to His Majesty the King of Thailand. The Royal Patronage Ceremony and the Royal Patronage given to Muaythai. 2014 World championships was conducted on the 20th of August and General Chetta then performed the royal oath was a grand event for all parties present. on behalf of the World Muaythai Council. AGM General Wimon then delivered the congratulatory speech as the former president Youth & Sport Conference of the World Muaythai Council, followed by congratulatory speeches from representatives Athlete Career Programme of all ministries, especially sports and culture.

MOU signing with UN Women The World Muaythai Council, the world governing body for the art and sport of Muay- Monte-Carlo Fighting Masters : thai has received the highest possible honour Thank You HSH Prince Albert II any organization can receive in the Kingdom of Thailand; the Royal Patronage of His Majesty, Inclusion in TWG 2017 the King of Thailand. The special ceremony took place in the capacity-filled ballroom of SportAccord Spirit of Sport the Sport Authority building of Thailand. Awards Stephan Fox, Vice President of WMC and General In Memory of Dr Nerijus Zukas Secretary of IFMA, then made a presentation on the achievements from 1995 to 2014, and delivered the congratulations on behalf of the 128 UN Youth Leadership Program international muaythai federations. A special congratulatory speech from National Olympic 2014 European Championships Council of Thailand, also under Royal Patronage, was delivered. An action-packed Wai Khru performance by Muaythai Juniors from the Laan Khru Suea House and a beautiful rendition of Recognized by / Member of All government departments, sport and culture the “We Are Muaythai” song rounded up the ministries, sport authorities and all major historical event. Muaythai stadiums and promoters were invited to historic event. PDG. General Saiyud Kerdphol, World Championships 2014 General Wimon Wongwanich the former The 2014 IFMA World Championships President of WMC, General Chatta Thanajaro event in Langkawi, Malaysia at the Mahsuri the current President of WMC, Dr Sakchye International Exhibition Centre, lasted a total of Tapsuwan IFMA President and WMC General eight memorable days with over 100 different Secretary, Khun Kajorn Prowsree Vice President countries traveling to Malaysia to participate in of the Amateur Muaythai Association of Thailand the Muaythai event. Needless to say, the event was under Royal Patronage of His Royal Highness a huge success as the sport and cultural art form the Crown Prince, Stephan Fox Vice President of Muaythai was well represented and promoted. of WMC and General Secretary of IFMA and The World Champion- so many other notable VIPs were also in ships opening cere- attendance. mony kicked off with Over 20 representatives from the different an entertaining display embassies in Bangkok also came to witness of Malay culture and the ceremony, along with representatives from tradition, giving spec- the United Nations, and many other organizations. tators a taste of the Dr Sakchye started off the afternoon many multicultural facets that make Malaysia with a heart-warming welcome speech, outlining truly Asia. Teams and honored guests were the event and the history of WMC. It was treated to some spectacular dance routines a proud moment when the Royal Cadets followed by a high impact show and theatrical TION OF ERA M D UA FE Y T L H A A N I O I A

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I F M A display from the Muaythai Live troupe which Dr. Vellapandian enthralled the audience with stunning acrobatics spoke on the importance of and fight sequences which to the story of the cooperation between govern- history of muaythai and its famous legends. ments and National Federa- The Honorable, CEO of LADA welcomed tions within sport and the all the athletes, officials and representatives from impact that sport can have over 100 countries and declared the champion- on society. He spoke to the ships officially opened. Valentina Shevchenko audience about how outreach of Peru delivered the athlete’s oath on behalf of programs and education can develop and direct the athletes and Eric Ekambi Kingue delivered the development of our from Malaysia made the official’s oath on behalf of the Technical WGA Annual General Meeting an emotional speech on martial arts, with an Officials. It was a wonderful start to what was The International World Games emphasis on Muaythai, congratulating them on an exciting ring of top class muaythai action from Association held their Annual their Spirit of Sport Award. He also said that the world’s elite amateur muaythai athletes. General Meeting on the 7th of the foundations of Muaythai – honour, respect, While their focus has been promoting Muaythai, April in Antalya Turkey during tradition fair play, and excellence are not just IFMA has also been very active behind the the SportAccord Convention. the foundations of sport but also the foundations scenes in helping out the local communities In 2013, IFMA became a proud of everyday life. where events are held. member of IWGA and is currently the only ring sport. There were many topics on the agenda, most importantly the elections for the new President as Ron Froehlich will be stepping down after having taken the World Games to the great success it enjoys today during his term. Also on the Agenda was the discussion of which sports were to be included in The 2017 World Games in Wroclaw, Poland. Muaythai was one of the prospective sports which was included into the World Games this year. With an emphasis on sustainability this year, IFMA partnered with the Consumer Association Penang, several different local hotels, foundations, gardeners, schools, the Charity Club of Langkawi, and the Rotary Club in Langkawi, in order to leave a small footprint, if you will, at the location of the event through sustainability projects. Once the event was underway, steps were made to make sure that everything from the composted kitchen waste to the tarps used After Career Programme for decorations were upcycled and re-used by IFMA’s guidelines are designed to help the local community. A total of 1,150kgs worth IFMA Youth & Sport Conference athletes think about their after-sports career, to of composted kitchen waste was collected from The youth are our future in life and in answer 5 key questions, and to direct them in the hotels, resorts, and guest houses that hosted sport and youth development is one of the most a more in-depth way, to resources in the IOC the different guests from the 102 countries. important foundations of IFMA. At this year’s Athlete Career Programme. The guide is written They were encouraged to use the composted IFMA World Championships, an important youth in a style which addresses athletes, drawing on kitchen waste to make fertilizers after the games forum took place, chaired by his Excellency the experiences of current and retired athletes for their landscaping and gardens. Dr. Vellapandian, Youth and Sports minister from who have had to make the same decisions that A large amount of money was also Malaysia, and with presentations by important face athletes today. donated to the Charity Club and the Rotary Club guest speakers from the UN, SportAccord, Every athlete is different, because every of Langkawi, which will be used to support the World Games Association and IFMA. person is different. However, there are some medical expenses of local families and cover Muaythai has recently signed an common, shared experiences of being in a high- monthly food runs, as well as provide educational important MOU, working in partnership with level sports career. The International Olympic books and repair funds for schools in Tuba the UN to End Violence against Women. Committee has many internet resources available Island. The blue carpets were upcycled for various Anna-Karin Jatfors, Regional Director for UN to help athletes. They are available electronically uses from badminton and futsal courts to reno- Women gave a presentation on the importance to the public, so that non-Olympic athletes can vating condo units. Even the tarps were re- of educating the youth on these issues, to help also access them and use them. purposed to cover construction materials, as bring equality and to end injustices made globally The sports career of an athlete will be well as supply a local foundation to help single towards women. always be a valuable, memorable, and important mothers make handcrafted tote bags. Kristof Sucz from SportAccord spoke part of their life. However, the constraint of a Nothing from the event went to waste, about sport integrity. An expert on online and Muaythai sports career is that, like many other IFMA and our partners were able to conduct offline gambling he spoke on the importance of sports careers, it is time sensitive. As your body a world class event while simultaneously helping development of education and standardization ages, even with the best training, athletes will most and giving back to the local communities. within sport to avoid sports integrity problems. likely retire in their thirties. Therefore, they will TION OF ERA M D UA FE Y T L H A A N I O I A

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I F M A need to be equipped and ready to know what the world Muaythai community were also given as well as continental events kind of life they will pursue afterward. IFMA a warm welcome to stadium. IFMAs Youth under the Olympic flag such provides this guideline free of charge on the Ambassador ,Kiana Guyon, was also present on as the Asian Beach Games IFMA website to any of its athletes in order to behalf of IFMA at the event. and Indoor Asian Martial Art help them address key issues and questions The event did not disappoint as the Games, truly shows that that range from choosing between sports and spectators saw 7 champions including Buakaw, IFMA is very close to being studies to transitioning from athletic environments Beurnueung, Alex Harris and Artem Vakhitov IOC recognised”. the professional working environment. come out victorious in an amazing night which IFMA President, Dr. Sakchye made history. Thank you, your HSH Prince Albert II Tapsuwan thanked the IWGA Executive Board MOU signing with UN Women and thank you, Monte-Carlo for an unforgettable for their faith in Muaythai and expressed his deep UN Women, the WMC and IFMA have evening. gratitude towards the IFMA General Secretary, joined forces in a new partnership that will work Stephan Fox, Rafal Szlachta, the IFMA Sports with young people around the world to promote Director Charissa and everyone involved in gender equality, challenge harmful ideas of mas- seeing IFMA through this historical chapter. culinities and to end violence against women. The official IWGA flag was presented On Friday when the agreement was to IFMA President Dr.Sakchye Tapsuwan by signed, the function room was packed to capacity IWGA Board Member Tom Dielen at the Sport with representatives from embassies, UN, Accord Convention today. Mr.Dielen kindly Muaythai and international press. congratulated IFMA for their inclusion into the Speakers present at the event were 2017 World Games and the federation is looking General Chetta Thanajaro – President WMC, forward to their participation in the event that Dr. Sakchye Tapsuwan – President IFMA, will be held in Wroclaw, Poland. Stephan Fox – General Secretary IFMA and Vice-President WMC, Sue Latta – Chair of the IFMA Female Commission and Roberta Clarke – Regional Director of UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, UN Women Representative in Thailand and International Human Rights Lawyer, all made powerful and emotional speeches on this historic day. The UN Women Regional Represen- tative Roberta Clarke will travel to Langkawi on the 3rd May to be one of the speakers at SportAccord Spirit of Sport Awards the Youth and Sport Forum at the upcoming Inclusion in TWG 2017 The most prestigious award for using World Championships. During the 10 day event Just last year, IFMA became a proud the power of sport to make a difference has been a joint meeting will take place between the UN, member of the International World Games awarded to Muaythai at the 2014 SportAccord IFMA female, ethics, integrity, athletes and youth Association at the annual General Assembly of Convention in Belek, Turkey. commissions and the IFMA Executive Board, IWGA in St.Petersburg at the SportAccord Sport Is Your Gang is the umbrella to work on a unified strategic plan Convention 2013. History was made yet again programme for all IFMA’s social initiatives and at this year’s AGM when muaythai was included was launched in 2010 in cooperation with the into the Official Sports Program amongst 29 Organisation for Peace & Sport. The president other sports participating in 2017 World Games of IFMA, Dr.Sakchye Tapsuwan was delighted in Wroclaw, Poland. to know that IFMA has been given the honour IFMA President Dr.Sakchye Tapsuwan and recognition for the social project in which stated “This a proud moment for Muaythai and IFMA is currently involved. IFMA. The World Games has become one of IFMA General Secretary, Stephan Fox the major sporting events in the world and for made the acceptance speech in front of over IFMA as new member of IGWA to be included, 100 world recognised sports, representatives of is truly an honour”. the IOC, ANOC, World Games, Common Wealth IFMA General Secretary, Stephan Fox Games, University Games and so many others. Monte-Carlo Fighting Masters : said “We had a solid foundation, popularity Mr. Fox stated that giving back to communities Thank You HSH Prince Albert II amongst both genders, a mixture of culture and is an important part of Muaythai values and It was 8 month in the making and finally sport along with many other aspects has been being part of social engagements gives everyone Monte- Carlo made Muaythai history on June the winning formula”. IFMA Sports Director, the chance to work on something larger than 14th at the 2014 Fighting Masters. The event Charissa Tynan stated “The last World Games themselves. To witness the transformation that started with a great opening with HSH Prince in Cali had over 500,000 spectators and Muay- sport can make in the lives of the targeted Albert II entering the stadium and the capacity thai already had a roadmap in place for 2017 individuals is a wonderful reward in itself. He crowd standing up to show their respect to his with qualification events on all five continents. thanked SportAccord and the committee for Highness. The Baroness Cécile de Massy, the The inclusion in the World Games will now give the honour and recognition, which is a further visitors from Thailand lead by M.L. Trinuch the athletes the chance to compete in two IOC encouragement for all IFMA national federations Sirivadhanabhakdi ,the Thai ambassador to patronised events which are the World Combat to continue using Muaythai’s values to make France M. Apichart Chinwanno, Dr. Sakchye Games and the World Games. On top of the this world a fitter and better place. Tapsuwan and Stephan Fox, representing biennial World Championships and World Cup, TION OF ERA M D UA FE Y T L H A A N I O I A

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him and those whose lives he touched are in There will be many our thoughts and prayers. workshops and meetings during the 1 week gather UN Youth Leadership Program ing, with many VIPs IFMA’s Youth Ambassador Kiana Guyon expected to travel to Poland, has recently returned from Gwangju, South and a special closing Korea where she received a certification from ceremony is planned as the United Nations Office for Sport Development part of the cultural program. and Peace (UNOSDP), for her participation at IFMA would like to congratulate the EMF on the Youth Leadership Programme (YLP) where their achievement during the last years, and would she also completed an introduction to child like to thank especially safeguarding and protection. the Polish muaythai The YLP took place at the Honam association on their out- University where 34 participants from 16 different standing work. countries from the Asia-Pacific area took part Poland will also host in a 12 –day programme which allowed them the 2017 world games to learn and improve their leadership skills and in which Muaythai is also help them to bring new knowledge back to apply included as an official within their own communities. sport, and surely the 2014 European Muaythai Representatives from various organisa- Championship will boost the popularity of the tions such as Right To Play, the International sport in Poland. Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), the International Swimming Federation (FINA), the World Tae- kwondo Federation (WTF), the International In Memory of Dr Nerijus Zukas Paralympic Committee (IPC), UNAIDS and the On a more sombre note, on behalf of Football Association (FIFA) shared their know- the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur ledge about sport development. Different and the world muaythai community, we wish to activities were set up for the participants in order express our sincere condolences for the recent to facilitate their understanding of the power of passing of the Lithuanian Muaythai Union’s sport and how it can affect positive change. beloved President, Dr. Nerijus Zukas. His death Kiana stated that another memorable is no doubt a great loss. activity during the YLP was the “EPICS Forum A doctor of Technical Sciences, a Martial Arts 2014” and gave them the opportunity to meet enthusiast, a former diplomat and businessman, important figures such as Kim Won-Soo the Dr. Zukas entered as a candidate for Presidency Assistant Secretary and Special Advisor to the of the Lithuanian Muaythai Union in November UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon and Mr. 2013. Wilfried Lemke the special advisor to the UN Dr. Zukas became General Secretary on Sports Development and President after the Peace. They also had the opportunity to discover Extraordinary Con- wonders of the Korean culture and the beauty ference of union of Gwangju, the host city of the 2015 Summer members voted Universiade. unanimously. Upon his election he said “I am convinced that the development of muaythai in Lithuania has a lot of untapped potential. Together with my team and the sport community, we will be working on promoting the sport and make every little effort to help 2014 European Championships sport clubs to educate highly skilled athletes” The European Championship held in His hard work bore fruit when the Lithuanian Krakow, Poland from the 21st to the 28th of team that participated at the recent IFMA World September will feature a record number of Championships under his leadership took home participating countries, and athletes. European a silver medal. It was in Langkawi where many General Secretary Rafal Szlachta stated that of the IFMA family had the great opportunity to 40 countries are expected to participate in this meet and know Dr. Luksas. We will remember event, with nearly 1,000 athletes and officials. fondly his great drive for excellence, intelligence He also stated that there is a 10% increase in and warmth. the female participant ratio, which truly shows We wish to extend our heartfelt that female muaythai is has become more and sympathy to his family and friends who are more popular as male muaythai has already affected so greatly by this loss. We honour become.