SPORTS AND RECREATION
A favourite pastime in Thailand is takraw, a game in which players keep a rattan ball in the air, using their feet, knees, elbows and heads - any part of the body except for the hands. In casual games, men and boys stand in a circle and bounce the ball back and forth. More formal games are played like volleyball, with a net separating two teams of players.

Thai boxing (muay thai) is a unique sport that requires coordination, concentration and physical agility. Players box in their bare feet with boxing gloves on their hands. The use of fists, elbows, knees, shins and feet is permitted. Certain rituals are associated with the game. Before engaging in a boxing match, competitors perform a slow, solemn dance called ram muay. A phipat orchestra, consisting of gongs, drums and wind instruments, plays before and during the match.

In the 19th century, King Rama V popularized kite flying. Contests are now held between February and April, when winds are strong and farmers have some free time after harvesting the rice. People also enjoy flying kites in parks on the weekends. Male kites are called chulas, and female kites, pakpaos. The chulas are large and cumbersome. The pakpaos are small and graceful. The chulas try to catch the pakpaos while the pakpaos try to escape and bring down the chulas.

Recently, soccer and rugby have become very popular in Thailand, and many fans attend games at the stadiums in Bangkok. Snooker, a game similar to billiards, is also becoming popular. Traditional sports are still played in Thailand, including boat racing, cockfighting and fish fighting using Siamese fighting fish. Visitors to Thailand enjoy golf, water sports and elephant rides.

Children have their own favourite games. Girls play a game with small stones that is similar to the game of jacks. Children also play mon sorn pha, a skipping game like Postman, and pio, similar to Red Rover.

   Did you know?
Thai athletes won a gold medal in boxing and two bronze medals in weightlifting atthe 2000 Sydney Olympics.