2007 Summer Universiade: Crown Prince Presents Royal Flame
June 18th, 2007
Dr.Sumate Yamnoon, Deputy Secretary-General of the Commission on Higher Education as the Executive Director of the Executive Office of the 24th Universiade Bangkok 2007, revealed that HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will present the Royal Flame to the Bangkok Universiade organizing committee at the Sukhothai Palace at 5pm on August 1st. After that, the Flame will be temporarily located at Thammasat Rangsit before the Chairman of the Organizing Committee Prof. Dr.Wichit will ignite the Flame and split it into four parts which will later be handed to four rectors from different regions as follows: - The North, Mae Fah Luang University’s rector; - The upper North East, Udonthani Rajabhat University’s rector; - The lower North East, Ubon Rajathanee University’s rector; - The South, Prince of Songkla University’s rector. Each of the four rectors will then bring his part of the split Royal Flame to his own varsities. The celebration for the Flame, which will be established at each varsity for one day, will also be made at the four varsities. The Flame torch will later be ignited at those varsities and torchbearers will carry the Flame back to Thammasat Rangsit on August 7. The Flame torch run by student athletes from various varsities in Bangkok will start from Thammasat Rangsit to be carried into the Rajamangala National Stadium during the official grand opening ceremony of the 24th Bangkok Universiade 2007 on August 8th. “So far, a total of 131 countries confirmed their participation in the 24th Bangkok Universiade 2007. Among them are 108 countries which had already submitted their entry forms of names of their athletes and officials totaling 9,995 persons”, Dr. Sumate said. “The other 23 countries have yet inform the Organizing Committee about the exact number of their athletes and officials to take part in the competition. Additional 10 countries will join the Financial Help Program, in which the host country will provide financial supports on their traveling fees. Therefore, 141 countries in total will participate in the 24th Bangkok Universiade 2007. “China and South Korea were the last two countries to submit their entry forms. China will send a strong team of 480 athletes and officials, while South Korea will be represented by 290 athletes and officials. The deadline for the entry form submission is July 8”, he added.
