World Muaythai Council

Sport Is Your Gang Campaign Launches April 3rd 2012

IFMA’s latest charitable initiative is in conjunction with the Peace and Sport Organisation and is entitled “Sport Is Your Gang”. The intent of the “Sport Is Your Gang” initiative is to create a pilot project through which youths from challenging backgrounds and/or impoverished locations will be encouraged to take up Muaythai and, through their participation, will be inspired to continue their education and focus their efforts on positive self-development. This project’s objectives include giving back and aiding such communities that have produced some of the most talented and lauded Muaythai athletes, by providing youths-at-risk in such communities with opportunities for an alternative lifestyle and therefore, a chance for a new start on a worthwhile path.

Within communities, particularly those that are impoverished and with high unemployment rates, youths can be left without options for self-advancement. They may also be drawn into gangs that encourage behaviour that is damaging to both the local community and the youths themselves. IFMA, together with Peace and Sport, recognises the potential of Muaythai in providing an alternative focus, and therefore a path away from such destructive activities.

IFMA recognises that younger generations are an important asset in any society and that they should be provided with hope, aspirations, and opportunities for advancement and improvement. The sport of Muaythai has become known as a platform through which disadvantaged and marginalised youths are able to bring structure to their lives, learning skills and core values that will aid them in their development while being supervised in a supportive environment. As a result there is hope for a new generation of champions, trainers and general participants contributing to the continuous growth of Muaythai.

This project has the support of sporting, social and political representatives, such as the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Mr Karim K Massimov, also the President of the Federation of Asian Muaythai Amateur (FAMA); General Chetta Thanajaro, President of the World Muaythai Council, and from IFMA the project has the support of His Excellency General Pichitr Kullavanijaya, Privy Counsellor to His Majesty the King of Thailand and Dr. Sakchye Tapsuwan, President of both IFMA and the Amateur Muaythai Association of Thailand (AMTAT), under Royal Patronage.