PHUKET, THAILAND // Phuket in Thailand, the popular tourist resort, which was devastated by the tsunami caused by the Indian Ocean earthquake on December 26, 2004, has put that tragedy behind it.
It is a decade next month since the tsunami struck, but the busy town in Petong is again reverberating to the beat of being a popular tourist and holiday destination.
Street vendors hustle and restaurants and hotels bustle to cater to thousands of holiday makers.
The next two weeks will see a surge in visitor numbers as fans arrive for the fourth Asian Beach Games, which begin on Wednesday and run until November 23, bringing with them more cheer and business for the natives.
“Every single event like the Beach Games is welcome in this town. It improves our livelihood,” said Jhonese Naing, a waiter at one of the restaurants in Petong.
“I was only nine when the tsunami struck. Me and my family were fortunate we were living away from the affected area but thousands of people died. Many lost their properties, valuables and their loved ones.”
Prasit, a cab driver, shuddered as he recalled the events of that day and their aftermath.
“I had a busy previous night and decided to stay at home with my family on that fateful day. But I lost many friends and colleagues. It took a long time for life to return to normal,” he said.
The Thai government estimated at least 8,150 died in the disaster with many missing never to be found, and Phuket was particularly badly hit.
Ten years later and the country and resort have moved on, and the Beach Games are part of it.
According to the Thai Minister of Tourism and Sport Kobkarn Watanavrangkul, the Games are expected to generate income from tourism worth about 1 billion Thai baht (Dh111m) through an estimated 6,000 visitors.
“The Asian Beach Games is a prestigious event of the Olympic Council of Asia and brings more cheer to the city by way of an international sporting extravaganza as well as business to the local people,” said Dr Jaffer Al Muthafer, OCA’s director of International Relations.
“The Beach Games is the second most important event in the OCA’s timetable, after the Asian Games, and it is growing all-round in terms of both popularity and participation since it was first staged in Bali in 2008.”
The Games in Phuket has drawn a record 2,583 athletes from 43 countries participating across 26 different sporting disciplines.
With a team of 343 Thailand have the largest number of competitors, followed by defending overall champions China with 196.
Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan and the Philippines have all sent substantial contingents.
The UAE will take part in jiu-jitsu, jet ski, sailing, beach soccer, foot volley and paragliding.
Jiu-jitsu is making its debut as an initiative of the UAE as they head the sport in Asia.
“This may be the first step to get jiu-jitsu in to the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia,” said Fahad Ali, general secretary of the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Union and the chief executive of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
“It has drawn 16 countries, more than some of the other traditional sports at the Games. This is a very good sign for the sport to be included in the next Asian Games.”
As a country that has taken massive steps to develop the sport in the continent as well as globally the UAE are also expected to feature prominently in the jiu-jitsu medal standings.
They are represented by 10 men and one female fighter in 11 different weight and belt categories.
“They are possible the most experienced having taken part in international competitions, including the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championships,” said Al Shamsi.
“I would expect three to four gold medals from them because they have been provided with some of the best training facilities and coaches, the exposure of competing all year round and, more importantly, the support and backing from the federation.”
Jiu-jitsu has emerged as one of the fastest growing sports in the UAE with the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
apassela@thenational.ae
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