Muay Thai sets sights on Olympic glory, but not everyone is thrilled

Channel News Asia ^ | 30 Nov 2022 | Saksith Saiyasombut

[nickcarraway]

Efforts to promote Muay Thai as a global sport have been met with resistance from some corners, with fears that international exposure will dilute its tradition and heritage.

Thailand’s national martial art Muay Thai could soon make its debut on the world’s biggest sporting stage, the Olympics.

The combat sport already has an increasingly global audience, with many would-be fighters making trips to its birthplace to immerse themselves in the culture.

After the inclusion in numerous multi-sport events such as the World Games earlier this year, the next step is for Muay Thai to be featured at the Olympics. But efforts to promote it as a global sport have been met with resistance from some corners.

[Hieronymus]

Can it replace soccer?

[nickcarraway]

Hopefully.

[Scrambler Bob]

Soccer?

Sumo Wrestling.

It is a little quicker.

[circlecity]

I always figured it was too brutal and bloody to ever be accepted into the Olympics.

[uranium penguin]

I would expect that if it becomes an Olympic Sport, that it will be wussified down to the level of a dance competition.

[Leaning Right]

> I always figured it was too brutal and bloody to ever be accepted into the Olympics. <

That was the reason why my suggestion - reinstate pistol dueling - was rejected by the Olympics committee. What a bunch of wimps.

And note that I said “return” there. Pistol Dueling was actually a sport at the 1908 Olympics. The targets there were plastic dummies.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_dueling

[circlecity]

“ I would expect that if it becomes an Olympic Sport, that it will be wussified down to the level of a dance competition.”

yeah, they would end up making them wear pads on their elbows and feet.

[Retrofitted]

Rollerball Murder, anyone?